Weekly News Wrap

This week: women breaking ground in Somalia, sexual assault in the metaverse, and improved gender equality in the music industry.

February 04, 2024

Happy February (is that a thing?) and Happy Black History Month! Here’s what’s on the rise this week:

A United Nations team has arrived in Israel to investigate reports of sexual violence during the Hamas-led attack on October 7.
Two of the three troops killed by drone strikes in Jordan were Black women, who make up 36% of women enlisted in the Army. Read more about Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett here.
In Somalia, an all-women media team is launching the nation’s first current affairs TV show hosted by women. Premiering in March, the show will tackle taboo issues for Somali women such as periods and breaking into politics.

Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, was the only woman among the Big Tech leaders who testified at this week’s Senate hearing on online child abuse, and the first to support the STOP CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) Act.
Meanwhile, reports of sexual assault in the metaverse have spurred lawmakers to call for protocols to prevent crime in virtual reality, a process that will be complicated by the space’s lack of governing regulations or physical evidence.
Networking may harm women’s status in the workplace, research has found. While forming ties with high-powered individuals is effective for men, women who do it experience negative reactions from colleagues due to biases against female leaders who are perceived as dominant or ambitious.
Helena Helmersson stepped down as CEO of fashion retailer H&M, which has struggled to keep up with competitors Zara and Shein.

Vice President Kamala Harris visited South Carolina ahead of last night’s Democratic primary. While supporting President Biden, she’s also laying the foundation for a 2028 presidential bid of her own.
Nikki Haley will also head to SC, her home state, ahead of the Republican primary on February 24. This week, billionaire Ken Griffin revealed he’s donated millions of dollars to support her campaign, while The Atlantic explored her new aggressive tone toward Donald Trump.
Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, is tied for the lowest paid justice, but an upcoming memoir could double her net worth.

80% of people with autoimmune disorders like lupus are women, and scientists may have just found the reason – a molecule that interacts with the second X chromosome.
Women and people of color are 20%-30% more likely than White men to experience a medical misdiagnosis, a new study found.

All four college presidents who appeared before Congress after reports of campus antisemitism were women. Is it coincidence, or is gender a factor?

A new study highlighted major improvements in women’s representation in the music industry, a welcome change evidenced by young women’s domination of major category nominations for this year’s Grammy Awards (SZA, Billie Eilish, boygenius, and Olivia Rodrigo are just a few of the women to watch).
Malia Obama made her filmmaking debut at the Sundance Festival with a short called “The Heart.”
The far-right has taken up arms against Tayor Swift, whose previous support for Democratic candidates and liberal policies could pose a major threat to Republicans in 2024.

Did you encounter any other women’s stories this week? I’d love to hear them — comment and let me know.

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