How To Reject ‘Internalized Incompetence’ | Talking About The Devastating Setback For Girls' Education In Afghanistan | Why It Seems Like The World Has Abandoned Brittney Griner | And More

Plus: the 20 happiest countries in the world

Yesterday, there was some news out of Afghanistan that almost slipped past my radar because of all the other news dominating the airways (amid the backdrop of war in Ukraine, yesterday also brought the passing of Madeline Albright, our nation’s first female secretary of state; outrageously disrespectful treatment of Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson during her Senate confirmation hearing; and new legislation in Idaho and Oklahoma that all but eliminate a woman’s access to legal abortion). 

Girls’ secondary schools in Afghanistan were supposed to open yesterday (Wednesday), after seven months of being closed by the Taliban. But when female students arrived, books in hand, Taliban officials ordered them home, citing an incomplete policy regarding their school uniforms. 

“I had one hope for today: that Afghan girls walking to school would not be sent back home,” Nobel Peace Prize laureate and education activist Malala Yousafzai tweeted yesterday. “But the Taliban did not keep their promise. They will keep finding excuses to stop girls from learning – because they are afraid of educated girls and empowered women. #LetAfghanGirlsLearn” 

Malala expanded on these comments in an interview with the BBC, which I recommend watching, and sharing. To echo something that Naheed Farid, an activist who was the youngest member of Afghanistan’s parliament before the Taliban took over, told us on International Women’s Day during the Forbes 30/50 Summit, it is incumbent upon all of us to not look away from this. “[Afghanistan’s women] need the world to be with them in this greatest time of need,” Farid said. “We cannot forget about them and call ourselves human rights and women rights defenders.”

In solidarity with those whose education and rights are under attack,
Maggie

P.S.: A quick programming note: I’m taking some time off next week, and therefore so will this newsletter! I’ll be back with our regularly-scheduled note the following week.

ICYMI: Stories From The Week

Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced Wednesday she has donated more than $3.8 billion to 465 non-profit organizations since June—bringing her publicly disclosed donations to more than $12 billion since she pledged to give away the majority of her wealth in 2019.

Australian tennis star and women’s world number one player Ashleigh Barty announced Wednesday that she is retiring from the sport, a decision that has shocked the tennis world months after the 25-year-old won her third grand slam title at the Australian Open.

In the five years since #MeToo showed the harm non-disclosure agreements can have on women, at least 17 states have instituted legislation restricting the use of NDAs. However these policies vary in their scope and effectiveness, and NDAs are still being used to silence women.

Sony recently introduced a new open world video game, Hogwarts Legacy, set in the wizarding world of Harry Potter. But fans are wondering whether it’s better to boycott the game entirely given Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling’s public anti-trans positions and opinions.

Check List

#1: Create your ‘worst scenario’ budget. This is an important step in creating an emergency fund: list out all your fixed expenses alongside things you could cut in the event of a job loss or extraordinary circumstance.

#2: Reject ‘Internalized Incompetence.’ Studies show that Black women, regardless of their qualifications, are more likely to be questioned about their competence than their white peers—including white women. Here’s how Deborah Archer, the first Black president of the American Civil Liberties Union, works to overcome this bias.

#3: Give yourself more free time. “Each time you repeat a task, take one step toward automating it. Look for places where you repeat tasks,” says Jenny Blake, author of the new book, “Free Time: Lose the Busywork, Love Your Business.”

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