Weekly News Wrap

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Meanwhile, here’s what’s on the rise this week:

World

• Lawmakers in Gambia advanced a bill that would remove the country’s ban on genital cutting. If it moves forward, the measure could reverse “decades of work” to end female genital mutilation in West Africa.

• An 82-year-old retiree has taught hundreds of Afghan women in California how to drive, free of charge, offering them a new level of independence.

Business and Tech

• Dell’s return-to-work policy stipulated that remote employees would not be considered for promotion, and insiders say the new rule is disproportionately impacting women. 

• Stephanie Cohen, a senior executive at Goldman Sachs, announced her departure this week, becoming the latest in a line of top women to leave the firm. In response, Goldman issued an internal memo with talking points to address the company’s exodus of women leaders.

• Reddit went public on Thursday, the first social media company to IPO since Pinterest in 2019. Here’s a Reddit thread on why most Reddit users are men.

• Selena Gomez is considering a sale of her cosmetics brand, Rare Beauty, at a $2 billion valuation.

Politics

• Arizona lawmaker Eva Burch announced her planned abortion on the state Senate floor in hopes of sharing with her colleagues the real-life implications of abortion restrictions.

• A new documentary about Stormy Daniels depicts a woman “destroyed by Donald Trump,” detailing how the former president “cornered” her and the impact of the incident on her life since.

Healthcare

• On Tuesday, Opill—the first over-the-counter birth control pill authorized for distribution in the U.S.—was sold for the first time.

• Misinformation about birth control is rampant on social media, according to physicians, leading more women to reject hormonal contraceptives.

Sports

• The world’s first-ever stadium built solely for women’s sports hosted its first game last week, a women’s soccer match up between Kansas City and Portland. 

• Plus, ticket prices for the National Women’s Soccer League are skyrocketing as women’s soccer becomes the fastest-growing U.S. sport in terms of popularity.

• March Madness is officially upon us. Here’s why this year’s tournament “belongs to the women,” plus the powerful economic impact of Caitlin Clark. 

• The 2024 World Figure Skating Championships are also underway. One American woman is bringing indie-rock and pride flags to the ice, while another aims to medal at the age of 40.

Culture

• Pop star Olivia Rodrigo will no longer hand out emergency contraceptives during concerts after receiving backlash about the presence of children in audiences.

• Beyoncé’s much-anticipated country album debuts next week; in preparation, meet the woman whose banjo will be featured.

Further Reading