“The Women Who Have Refused to be Broken”

Greetings, Meteor readers,

It’s been an exciting week ‘round these parts. On Tuesday, we spent the day at the Ford Foundation’s Free Future 2024: Preventing Gender Violence Around the World—hearing from incredible leaders, advocates, artists, and one highly decorated gymnast, all working toward a world in which “no one else has to say ‘me too.’ ”

L-R: SOCCER PLAYER FARKHUNDA MUHTAJ; THE HONORABLE HARRIETE CHIGGAI, WOMEN’S RIGHTS ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT OF KENYA; OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST ALY RAISMAN; AND CULTURE CRITIC SORAYA NADIA MCDONALD. (PHOTO BY MONNELLE BRITT)

Every speaker brought their own lens and insight—Black Votes Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown reminded us, “There has never been a fundamental movement that has not been held nurtured and girded by…the leadership of women.” Actor and activist Danai Gurira reiterated the importance of turning our focus to the African continent to “amplify the women who have refused to be broken and see a future we all need to follow.” And in a panel on taking the toxic out of masculinity, activist David Hogg noted, “Being a man isn’t defined by putting down other people—it’s defined by helping to lift others up and building community.”

L-R: FREE FUTURE HOST SARAH JONES WITH PANELISTS TARANA BURKE, AND DANAI GURIRA. (VIA GETTY IMAGES)

The day ended strong with a monologue from performance artist ALOK, who shared what they would say to their younger self: “The reason that people are seeking to oppress you is not because you are weak or fragile; it’s precisely because you are powerful and tremendous.”

THE TREMENDOUS ALOK (PHOTO BY MONNELLE BRITT)

If you missed the livestream of the event (cohosted by the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, the Skoll Foundation, and us), you can still catch every revelatory word from folks like Tarana Burke, Fatima Goss Graves, Padma Lakshmi, Chase Strangio, Aly Raisman, Darren Walker, and global leaders like Jaha Dukureh of the Gambia, Dr. Emma Fulu of Australia, UN Women’s Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, and more, right here. And watch our Instagram for highlights.

Now let’s get into some news!

xx Shannon Melero

WHAT’S GOING ON

• An enraging report from ProPublica earlier this week found that at least two women in Georgia died preventable deaths after they “couldn’t access legal abortions and timely medical care.” One woman, Amber Thurman, had taken an abortion pill, but her body had not expelled all of the fetal tissue. She went to a local hospital after a painful infection developed and waited 20 hours in a hospital bed while doctors tried to figure out if they could legally perform a routine procedure to save her life. As Fatima Goss Graves pointed out during Free Future, we will likely continue to read horrific stories like these for as long as “we are allowing really extreme lawmakers to basically say it’s okay to die.”

• The Government Accountability Office has found that Black girls in school face more discipline and severe punishment than girls from other racial backgrounds. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, one of the Democratic leaders who requested the study, said of the findings, “It affirms what we’ve known all along—that Black girls continue to face a crisis of criminalization in our schools.” (Can’t get enough Ayanna Pressley? She’s on UNDISTRACTED this week, alongside Brittney Cooper and host Brittany Packnett Cunningham.)

• Earlier this week, producer Sean “Diddy” Combs was indicted on federal charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution—crimes which could carry a life sentence. Combs pleaded not guilty to all charges and has been denied bail twice. Many jokes have been made about the 1,000 bottles of baby oil seized from a raid on one of Combs’ properties but as journalist Jemele Hill wrote on X, “I know everybody is going to get these jokes off about Diddy, and by extension R Kelly, but think of the numerous Black women whose lives were ruined by these horrendous people. The narrative is not, another Black man got taken down — cause this ain’t got sh*t to do with Black men as a whole. The narrative is, thank God these women are finally getting the justice they deserve.”

• Congratulations to all of you from Portland! The city has been awarded a WNBA franchise, meaning Portlandians will have a team of their own as early as the 2026 basketball season. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert noted that “Portland has been an epicenter of the women’s sports movement and is home to a passionate community of basketball fans.” Can’t wait for the watch parties at The Sports Bra.

WEEKEND READING 📚

On always being there: Steve Burns, the original host of Blue’s Clues, has found a new way to show up for his now adult fans. (The New York Times)

On unsolved cases: There are an estimated 21,579 Latinas missing in the United States right now. And authorities have, for the most part, stopped looking for them. (Refinery29)

On the “perfect vagina”: A conversation about labiaplasty on reality TV reignited harmful conversations about what a vulva should look like. TikTokers are pushing back. (Teen Vogue)

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