Rest in Power: Sarah Weddington, Feminist Attorney and Champion of Roe v. Wade

PUBLISHED 1/3/2022 by
Rest in Power: Sarah Weddington

On Jan. 22, 2022, we mark the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States. The case was argued by a 26-year-old female lawyer from Texas: Sarah Weddington, in her first appearance before the Court. Female lawyers were so rare in those days that the Supreme Court lawyers lounge didn’t even have a ladies’ room. There were no female judges; Weddington faced a wall of older white men.

Almost five decades after the decision, Sarah Weddington died at her home in Austin on Dec. 26, 2021, at age 76, after a period of declining health. Rest in power, Sarah Weddington.

Feminist Year in Review 2021: It’s Been a Hell of a Year—But We Didn’t Just Sit Around

PUBLISHED 12/31/2021 by

It’s been a hell of a year for feminists.

But we didn’t sit around. We took to the streets, to protest the attacks on our right to decide what happens to our own bodies. To protest the lack of progress on voting rights, immigration, police and gun reform, and on finally enshrining the Equal Rights Amendment in the U.S. Constitution. We wrote letters, sent messages, tweet stormed, rallied, called Congress, and gave money to support our causes in a year when budgets were tight—because we knew it was the right thing to do.

Happy new year from all of us at Ms., and thank you for sticking with us through the hard times.

How to ‘Intention’ a Feminist World: Ringing in the New Year with Leadership Icon Gloria Feldt

PUBLISHED 12/31/2021 by
Gloria Feldt

For years, Gloria Feldt has focused on women’s leadership—and as we flip the calendar to 2022, her resolve is stronger than ever. I decided to find out more about her insights into women and power.

“One of the hardest things is to shift our focus from battling negative power reactively to embracing our positive power to implement change proactively and set our own agenda in a disciplined way.”

Feminist Wishes for 2022: “We Were Never Meant To Do This Work Alone”

PUBLISHED 12/30/2021 by and
Feminist Wishes for 2022: “We Were Never Meant To Do This Work Alone”

As 2021 comes to a close, Ms. asked some of our favorite feminists—from abortion activists and providers to climate crisis specialists and environmentalists—what they see as top priorities and what changes they’re hoping for in 2022.

“Ms. readers: We are the answer—the future we’ve been waiting for! And that begins right now, on the eve of 2022.”

What Commitment to Diversifying the Federal Bench Looks Like

PUBLISHED 12/23/2021 by
What Commitment to Diversifying the Federal Bench Looks Like

At the end of 2021, 80 percent of President Biden’s confirmed judges have been women—compared to 42 percent of President Obama’s federal judges and a mere 24 percent of President Trump’s.

It will take a sustained commitment to diversity to actually achieve a federal judiciary that reflects the American people. Even with President Biden’s diverse judges confirmed this year, the federal judiciary is still approximately 72 percent white and 65 percent men. The numbers are moving in the right direction, but we have a long way to go.

The Ms. Top Feminists of 2021

PUBLISHED 12/23/2021 by
Ms. top feminists

From COVID vaccines to abortion rights, infrastructure bills to Olympic athletes, 2021 has been a monunmental year for feminists around the globe. With so many of our rights in jeopardy, and with so many women struggling to recover from the pandemic, activists have had to work even harder to stand up for the causes we believe in.

Tackling voting rights, public health, reproductive justice and much more, here are our top feminists of 2021.