More Than A Magazine, A Movement
For the first time in its history, the United Nations Human Rights Committee recognized in a Jan. 20 ruling that denying an abortion to a child is not just a denial of choice but an imposition of pregnancy and forced motherhood that irreversibly disrupts their health, well-being and life trajectory.
This landmark decision represents a crucial shift in how the international community addresses the intersection of children’s rights, reproductive rights and gender justice.
The Reproductive Privacy Rule was enacted by HSS under the Biden administration to protect patients’ privacy in cases that involved law enforcement.
How will confidentiality of medical records, increasingly consequential post-Roe, be impacted or even invalidated by the Trump administration’s brazen antiabortion stance?
As feminist resistance faces a critical crossroads, Suffs and Teeth present two diverging paths: marching forward or tearing it all down.
It is the feminist movement’s challenge moving into a time that will most certainly require vigilance and resistance to consider how to reconcile these two paths forward. Will we keep marching? Or will we lick our teeth?
Each month, I provide Ms. readers with a list of new books being published by writers from historically excluded groups.
As we tread uncertain waters, it’s nice to have something to depend on that provides a sense of grounding, respite and normalcy. For me, books are that something. So, while life is unpredictable and scary and precarious, I hope you can gain something from the books on this list.
Which one of these books will be the catalyst you’re looking for?
Weekend Reading for Women’s Representation is a compilation of stories about women’s representation.
This week: a look at the women being considered for the Democratic nomination in the 2028 presidential race; Portland’s new electoral system from the perspective of a first-time candidate; Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s determination to be a voice of reason within her party; Florida adds a woman to the Senate; Rep. Sarah McBride navigates her first month in office with grace; and Australia’s leadership on policies and practices that advance women.
MAGA Republicans are back in the White House, and Project 2025 is their guide—the right-wing plan to turn back the clock on women’s rights, remove abortion access, and force women into roles as wives and mothers in the “ideal, natural family structure.” We know an empowered female electorate is essential to democracy. That’s why day after day, we stay vigilant in our goals to dismantle patriarchy at every turn. We are watching, and we refuse to go back. This is the War on Women Report.
Since our last report…
—Abortion bans are driving young people out of restrictive states.
—Brittany Watts, the Ohio woman who was arrested last year after miscarrying at home, has filed a lawsuit against several members of hospital staff.
—Trump has launched a nationwide immigration enforcement operation, beginning in Chicago.
—Republicans ramp up attacks on the FACE Act.
… and more.
In an era where crisis pregnancy centers outnumber real abortion clinics three to one, raising the alarm about these fake clinics is crucial. A new TikTok video recently went viral for doing just that: spreading the word about the dangers of antiabortion “clinics.”
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 enacts harmful executive actions on immigration, global abortion care, DEI and foreign assistance; Trump’s new treasury secretary said expanding tax cuts for the wealthy is “the single most important economic issue of the day”; Trump pardoned anti-abortion extremists; ICE raids spread fear; 1.4 percent of trans teens participate in sports, but 40 percent are bullied at school; Whole Woman’s Health has expanded its 24/7 abortion care services; states hostile to abortion rights see challenges attracting and retaining workers; female firefighters will now receive federal compensation for treatment for reproductive cancers; remembering Cecile Richards, and more.
Women’s rights and maternal health are under relentless attack. Just one week into Donald Trump’s presidency, the rollback of reproductive rights, threats to healthcare access and emboldened restrictions on bodily autonomy have left women more vulnerable than ever. With abortion bans expanding and maternal health protections at risk, the fear is no longer hypothetical—it is urgent.
But amid this crisis, there are leaders refusing to stand by. One of them is Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), a public health nurse turned member of congress, who remains steadfast in her belief that real progress is still possible.
“Every mother deserves access to quality care, and every child deserves a healthy start,” Underwood told Ms. “No one can argue with that.”
During Donald Trump’s first stint at the White House, women journalists faced unprecedented threats and challenges. From online violence and smear campaigns to physical and verbal assaults, they remained at immense risk. As Trump returns to the presidency, his legacy indicates the threat of increased risks towards women journalists.
To understand these women’s experiences, as well as their reporting on gender, join us for a powerful discussion featuring: Women Press Freedom senior editor Inge Snip; Ms. managing digital editor Roxanne Szal; California-based journalist Cerise Castle; and longtime CFWIJ community member Megan Clement. Watch the discussion live on CFWIJ’s YouTube channel at 10:30 a.m. ET (7:30 PT / 9:30 CT) Monday, Feb. 3, 2025.