As the year comes to a close, women’s rights feel very stunted and our situation seems dire. Abortion rights are under attack in places where they already had been made legal (x), places like Afghanistan face a renewed horrifying misogynistic reality (x), and femicide and other types of violence against women is ever on the rise (x) (x), and that’s just to name a few issues. As feminists, we already know all of this, and personally, 2021 has been extremely taxing on my mental health - as a woman specifically.
In light of all of that, I decided I’d list a few good news in this post for the year of 2021 in feminism, both to help myself and all of my sisters not feel so hopeless, and also to renew some of our strength as we enter another year!
Mary Simon, an Inuit advocate, became Canada’s first Indigenous governor general: she said her "historic" nomination was "an important step forward on the long path towards reconciliation" and towards "building a more inclusive and just Canadian society".
Chloé Zhao became the first woman of colour to win best director Oscar: “This is for anyone who has the faith and courage to hold on to the goodness in themselves and in each other. This is for you; you inspire me to keep going.”
Brazil passed the Mariana Ferrer law, named after survivor of sexual violence Mariana Ferrer. After the country watched in shock as she faced public attacks from her abuser’s lawyers and supporters, the law was passed to protect other victims from also having their personal lives scrutinized and their public image torn apart during legal proceedings involving sex crimes.
Afghan women did not stay silent, and their representatives spoke up at the UN: “Create spaces for me and other Afghan women leaders to talk directly with the Taliban... Give us a seat at the table. Do not put us in the corridor.”
Mexico ruled that their ban on abortion is unconstitutional; in Africa, the Beninese parliament approved a new law in the month of October that helped facilitate abortion. In early 2021, Thailand's parliament voted by a large majority to allow abortions up to the 12th week of pregnancy.
The Philippines Senate is taking it’s first steps in raising their age of consent, which currently stands at 12 years old.
Estonia greenlights raising age of sexual consent to 16 from June 2022. Earlier this year, the country elected Kaja Kallas, the leader of the Reform Party, as its first female prime minister.
Ghislaine Maxwell was finally found guilty in sex-trafficking trial: “The road to justice has been far too long. But, today, justice has been done. I want to commend the bravery of the girls, now grown women, who stepped out of the shadows and into the courtroom. Their courage and willingness to face their abuser made this case, and today’s result, possible.”
Britney Spear’s conservatorship has finally come to an end after 13 long years: her battle for freedom was a reminder worldwide as to why women’s bodily autonomy is still an ongoing fight.
Baby steps, I know, and sometimes it can feel hopeless - but they are steps nonetheless, and as we enter 2022, I want us to think of - and prepare ourselves to fight for - the new lists of achievements we may make 12 months from now.
Happy New Years to every woman out there! Drink as much champagne as you want, laugh with the people that you love, remember that our fight is the most precious movement one could be a part of!
🥂💓 Much love to all my sisters!
theartofmadeline
amandla
turnnoffyourmind
titsay
yousharknotpass
