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As the world marked International Women’s Day last week and Equal Pay Day in the U.S. earlier this week—both bringing women’s equality to the forefront—it’s easy to feel a bit downtrodden in the wake of these important issues fading from the spotlight. You might find yourself wondering, “Well, now what?”
A 2023 report from the World Economic Forum found that we’re more than 130 years off from global gender equality, based on the current rate of progress. The fact that Equal Pay Day has only crept up into March, since it was first recognized in April of 1996, also highlights that little has changed on the gender pay gap over the last 20 years. As Forbes contributor Holly Corbett writes, “A holiday is nice, but real action steps are vital for driving equity.”
Someone who certainly understands that is Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. At 85, the Nobel laureate and former president of Liberia—she was Africa’s first woman democratically-elected head of state—is nowhere near done working toward women’s rights. In conversation with Mika Brzezinski at the Forbes 30/50 Summit in Abu Dhabi last week, Sirleaf said peacemaking and being a negotiator come naturally to women. “Women are determined to seek, to continue to fight for equity and for equal opportunity,” she said. “We need more women in high positions of leadership.”
Sirleaf’s mother was a teacher, she said, and she was expected to follow the same path. But as early as middle school, she started doing things little boys do—like climbing trees. As she continued her education, her dreams got bigger. And she still has dreams: “A dream where we get back to global cooperation, our world is one world,” she said.
So in a few weeks, when the calendar turns to April and Women’s History Month comes to an end, I hope you can find ongoing strength in Sirleaf and her dream.
Until next time,
Featured Forbes Story: AI Nudes Of Celebs Like Margot Robbie And Selena Gomez Are For Sale On eBay
JOEL C RYAN/INVISION/AP
eBay is teeming with thousands of AI-generated and photoshopped pornography of at least 40 celebrities including Margot Robbie, Selena Gomez and Jenna Ortega. After Forbes notified eBay, the ecommerce giant took down hundreds of photos and suspended accounts of sellers. “It’s not just the sellers. Companies like eBay are also profiting from image-based sexual abuse,” said Lina Nealon, an executive for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation. “They are commodifying women’s bodies, and it’s egregious because it is without the consent and knowledge of those who are being depicted.”
And celebrities are far from the only victims of deepfake porn: Students at a New Jersey high school used an online service to create an artificially-generated nude image of then-14-year-old Francesa Mani, and her mother Dorota Mani says the boys suspected of distributing the images have faced no meaningful consequences—and are still in class with her daughter.
ICYMI: News Of The Week
US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during her visit to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on March 14, 2024.
STEPHEN MATUREN/AFP via Getty ImagesWith the general election now in full swing, Vice President Kamala Harris plans to visit a Planned Parenthood facility in Minnesota today, in a bid to highlight the Biden Administration's support for protecting abortion access. Harris’ visit is part of a nationwide tour she has been on since January, and reportedly will be the first time a vice president has visited an abortion clinic.
The Forbes 30/50 Summit took place last week in Abu Dhabi with the goal of bringing women of all ages together to share ideas, offer advice and foster lifelong relationships, as your regular ForbesWomen newsletter writer Maggie McGrath said in her introductory remarks. You can check out our full coverage of the four-day event here, including conversations with Shania Twain, Suze Orman, and of course, the iconic Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Christine Blasey Ford is doubling down on her accusations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, according to excerpts from her memoir. Five years after she first accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault ahead of his Supreme Court confirmation, Ford said she “believe[s] [Kavanaugh] must know” what happened, “even if it’s hazy from the alcohol,” and that the justice is not a “consummately honest person.” Kavanaugh denied her account during those hearings, and the Supreme Court has not responded to a recent request for comment.
New research from Stanford University finds that HR executives, who predominantly are women, are seeing bigger titles and far higher paychecks over the past three decades. Chief human resources officer pay has grown from about 40% of what other non-CEO C-Suite members made in 1992, to 70% of their peers’ pay in 2022, closing the gap by a third.
Many on the internet have been transfixed in recent weeks with conspiracy theories regarding Kate Middleton, including questions about the health and whereabouts of the Princess of Wales. Speculation escalated over the weekend when a photo of Kate and her three children was retracted by several news agencies over concerns it was manipulated, and while Kensington Palace declined to comment, Kate issued an apology for the “confusion,” saying “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.”
The Checklist
1. If you thought March was bad, Equal Pay Day is even further behind for women of color and those with other intersectional identities—here are three ways you can support pay equity as an ally.
2. Are you paid fairly? Effective salary negotiation requires an understanding of how companies create offers in the first place.
3. Check out these retail mavericks. Here are six woman-founded brands that are a testament to the creativity, resilience and leadership of women in business.
The Quiz
Beyoncé’s forthcoming album Cowboy Carter drops at the end of the month, but she’s far from the first (or the last) major pop star to make a foray into country music. Which of the following artists has not alluded to a future pivot to the country genre?
A. Ed Sheeran
B. Lana Del Rey
C. Billie Eilish
D. Post Malone
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