Reclaiming female nudes over Zoom, Social justice events in December, Data storytelling at IWDA

Just one educational session about menstrual hygiene can make a difference for young women, new study shows: A new study with young women in Zimbabwe shows the difference just one menstrual health class can make; more than 81% of the participants in the study were able to better address their menstrual health and hygiene after just one session. The impact is particularly important to understand in light of Scotland becoming the first country to make all menstrual products free last week. >> Full Story

The indigenous women reshaping Canada's tourism industry: Indigenous people have long been marginalized and exploited by the industry. But things are changing in Canada, and that’s partly thanks to a growing group of women spearheading change in the sector, bringing First Nations, Métis, and Inuit narratives to the mainstream. >> Full Story

What if instead of calling people out, we called them in? Loretta J. Ross is a radical Black feminist and professor at Smith College (USA), who is challenging her students to identify the characteristics, and limits, of call-out culture: the act of publicly shaming another person for behavior deemed unacceptable. “I think we overuse that word ‘trigger’ when really we mean discomfort,” she said. “And we should be able to have uncomfortable conversations.” >> Full Story

In the history of visual culture, there are few subjects that have been portrayed more widely than the female nude – too often, through the altering eyes of men. Shrugging off the objectifying constraints of the male gaze, photographer Alexandra Leese reclaims the modern nude with a series of 44 nude portraits taken over Zoom, giving subjects autonomy over their image, and celebrating women’s bodies in comfortable, happy spaces: "The project is about ourselves and our relationship with our bodies. It’s about taking back control over how we perceive and love ourselves within a society that constantly tells us how to.”

Watch a series of 26 short films profiling diverse and little-known American women from the turn of the 20th century and the contemporary women who follow in their footsteps.

Indian-born Canadian poet and illustrator Rupi Kaur released her highly anticipated third book of poetry this week, Home Body. Kaur's work has inspired millions around the world, including the London-based organization Milk Honey Bees, a hub of creativity for young Black girls. "Healing circles" are one of Milk Honey Bees' main projects: "a healing circle might be that we look at a poem by Kaur. We’ll sit and take it in, close our eyes and the girls will listen to me reading a poem, then I’ll read it again but with their eyes open. Then everyone will talk about what that poem brought up for them.” 

Elena Ferrante names her favorite 40 books by female authors around the world.

After years of experiencing and hearing about the challenges and snide remarks Muslim women encounter due to their gender and religion, Dr. Seema Yasmin, a medical doctor and journalist, decided to create the book Muslim Women Are Everything. The illustration book features more than 40 profiles of Muslim women to tear down the tiresome tropes of what Muslim women are: what they look like, what they wear and what they do or don’t do.