Weekend Reading on Women’s Representation: Women’s World Cup Becomes Battleground for Gender Equality; Ranked-Choice Voting Comes to Boulder, Colo.

Weekend Reading for Women’s Representation is a compilation of stories about women’s representation. 

This week: Anti-abortion Republican women lawmakers hope supporting legislation to expand access to birth control will provide them with political cover from abortion bans; feminism and the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia; the modern fight for the ERA; “A womanless history no more”; and more.

Alabama Defies the Voting Rights Act

Black voters in Alabama won a major victory at the U.S. Supreme Court in June, after the Court ruled that Republican lawmakers violated the Voting Rights Act when they redrew the state’s congressional map after the 2020 census and failed to create a second Black district. If you stopped watching there, you might be forgiven for thinking that Alabama, thoroughly chastened, would have quickly gone about redrawing its congressional map to add a second district “in which Black voters either comprise a voting-age majority or something quite close to it.” But no.

With control of the U.S. House on the line in 2024, Republicans are fighting for every last gerrymandered seat.

Weekend Reading on Women’s Representation: How Black Suffragists Fought for Voting Rights; Women’s (In)Equality Day; Former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell Challenges Rick Scott

Weekend Reading for Women’s Representation is a compilation of stories about women’s representation. 

This week: Despite Women’s Equality Day celebrations, the disparities in women’s representation—particularly in employment, wages and government—are still significantly low compared to our male counterparts; the numerous Black suffragists forgotten by history: Mary Church Terrell, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ida B. Wells, Alice Dunbar-Nelson, Fannie Barrier Williams, Sojourner Truth, Lugenia Burns Hope, Mary McLeod Bethune and Nannie Helen Burroughs; Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is running for Senate, posing a challenge to incumbent Republican Senator Rick Scott; and more.

Why Civic Engagement for Abortion Advocacy Matters

Last year, Americans lost their federal right to abortion. While polls suggest that favorable public opinion for abortion access is as high as 85 percent, 24 states have passed abortion bans so far.

After four years of no recourse during the Trump administration, people are tired and discouraged. But we still have a voice. And upholding strong civic spaces is vital for fostering genuine democracy and ensuring reproductive justice. Every silenced voice due to lack of support hinders social progress and undermines gender equality.

Weekend Reading on Women’s Representation: Senate Could See Third Black Woman Senator in 234 Years; Key Races in Boulder and St. Paul

Weekend Reading for Women’s Representation is a compilation of stories about women’s representation. 

This week: the release of the 10th annual Gender Parity Index fueled discussions about U.S. women’s representation on social media; This November, Boulder will have its first ranked-choice mayoral contest; five women individually filed their candidacies for the St. Paul City Council; and more.

Ms. Global: 11-Year-Old Peruvian Rape Victim Denied Abortion; Indigenous Women in Canada Forcibly Sterilized; Fair Pay in FIFA Women’s World Cup

The U.S. ranks as the 19th most dangerous country for women, 11th in maternal mortality, 30th in closing the gender pay gap, 75th in women’s political representation, and painfully lacks paid family leave and equal access to health care. But Ms. has always understood: Feminist movements around the world hold answers to some of the U.S.’s most intractable problems. Ms. Global is taking note of feminists worldwide.

This time with news from Peru, Afghanistan, Taiwan, Canada and more.

Keeping Score: FDA Approves Postpartum Depression Pill and Preeclampsia Test; Pressure Grows on Clarence Thomas to Resign; Henrietta Lacks’ Overdue Compensation

In every issue of Ms., we track research on our progress in the fight for equality, catalogue can’t-miss quotes from feminist voices and keep tabs on the feminist movement’s many milestones. We’re Keeping Score online, too—in this biweekly roundup.

This week: Trump indicted on felony charges related to the 2020 election; Henrietta Lacks’ descendants reach settlement after more than 70 years; Labor Dept. launches Power to Pump national campaign for workers who breastfeed; federal judge imposes prison sentences on Jan. 6 rioters; Pennsylvania ends contract with anti-abortion group funding CPCs; FDA approves postpartum depression treatment and preeclampsia blood test; judge blocks Texas abortion ban for medical emergencies; N.J. supreme court sides with Catholic school that fired unwed pregnant teacher; women and LGBTQ+ journalists faced more assaults and threats in July 2023 than any other month; and more.

Weekend Reading on Women’s Representation: Ohio’s Rejection of Issue 1 is a Win for Ballot Measures; Democracy and Women’s Empowerment Are Linked

Weekend Reading for Women’s Representation is a compilation of stories about women’s representation. 

This week: New Jersey state Rep. Sadaf Jaffer is leaving office due to the mental, emotional and sometimes physical trauma of serving in the public eye; Kalamazoo, Mich., has adopted a resolution to implement ranked-choice voting for mayoral and city commissioner elections; the findings of the 2023 Gender Parity Index; and more.