"It's not a ripple, it's a wave"

Via Kamala Harris

The Trump presidency has inspired over 11,000 women from all 50 states to approach EMILY's List (a political action committee) the about running for school boards, state legislatures, and Congress. That’s 12 times more than the previous year (and we’re only 100 days into the presidency!!) “Over 10,000 women isn’t a ripple — it’s a wave,” said EMILY’s List President Stephanie Schriock. Women are still underrepresented in political office— 21% of the Senate and 19% of the House are female, although the numbers are slightly higher at state and local levels—so, what are you waiting for?

“Guys, a woman who’s dead drunk cannot consent”

via Flickr

Joe Biden kept it v real with the students of George Mason University this week during a visit on behalf of the Obama-founded organization, It’s On Us, to talk about sexual assault on campus. As well as pointing out that being drunk means you *can’t consent*, Biden tore down “locker room” talk as unacceptable, and made a point of calling out bros who passively stand by while sexual assault occurs:  “When you see something, if you're a fraternity brother and you see a young freshman co-ed in the second week dead drunk, and him walking her up the stairs, you gotta go up to him and say, 'Hey, not in my house, Jack. Not in my house.' Because if you don't, you are an accomplice. You know what's about to happen. You know!"

Climate change is closing in on women’s rights

Via Flickr

It’s been a big week for Mama Earth, with Earth Day and the Science March last week drawing crowds of people who were fighting for… science! On Saturday April 29, the People’s Climate March will take place in Washington, DC, with satellite marches happening around the country. Climate change isn’t always seen as a women’s rights issue, but as it will affect our society’s most vulnerable, it’s important we take a strong stance. The UN Population Fund released a report on the relationship between women and climate change, which concluded that women “are among the most vulnerable to climate change, partly because in many countries they make up the larger share of the agricultural work force and partly because they tend to have access to fewer income-earning opportunities.” As women in developing countries are also often in charge of providing critical resources that may decrease with the onset of climate change (eg. food and water) this could leave women with less time to go to school or work, and reinforce the cycle of poverty.  

Happy Lemonade Day!

Via @beyonce

It’s no secret that THINX HQ is full of active members of the Bey-hive. This week was the 1 year anniversary of the masterpiece that was Lemonade (“where were you when Lemonade dropped?” my kids will ask me), a visual album that redefined Beyonce as an artist. How are we celebrating? Well, obvs, sitting ourselves down and watching Lemonade for the 1,000th time, answering all my texts with “boy, bye,” and working my way through the Lemonade Class Syllabus, by Dr. Kinitra D. Brooks, a professor at The University of Texas at San Antonio. How is Bey celebrating? By announcing a Formation Scholarship “to encourage and support young women who are unafraid to think outside the box and are bold, creative, conscious and confident.” Praise Bey-sus, y’all!

Menstrual sustainability in India

Via The Times of India

A group of college students in Thiruvananthapuram, a city in India of 1.5 million people, have taken steps to address the sustainability of menstrual products despite the heavy taboos that surround periods in India. Finding that the traditional method of burying pads was becoming unsustainable (they were piling up and not decomposing due to chemicals) the students have pushed to have vending machines that dispense reusable cotton pads more widely available. A 2016 study found that "safe disposal [of menstrual products] will become a growing problem across India as more females turn to commercial pads, with the potential for 9,000 tons of waste (for 432 million pads) annually". It’s clear a sustainable alternative, as well as ongoing education and support around menstruation, is crucial.

Miss-Me-Nots

1. Mindy Kaling has optioned the TV rights to Obama staffer Alyssa Mastromonaco’s memoir: Who Thought This Was A Good Idea? And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House. And I am *here* for The Mindy Project x West Wing vibes.

2. In Scotland, trade unionists are fighting to pass a law to ensure tampons and pads are made available to homeless shelters, despite a comment from the Scottish Health Minister, Shona Robison, who said: “feminine hygiene is not a health issue.”

3. Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale is out (well, the first 3 eps), and as Elisabeth Moss says, it really has that relaxed and not at all anxiety-inducing ‘this could happen here’ dystopian vibe (can you smell the sarcasm?). And check out Margaret Atwood’s (author of the original novel) great piece on what the story means in the age of Trump.

We're also thankful for a year of amazing Lemonade gifs

by Team Thinx