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We're seeing the impact of the #MeToo movement continue today

Five years after Gretchen Carlson's bombshell lawsuit brought sexual harassment in the workplace to the front page of national conversations,  we are still seeing the impact of her "jump off a cliff" play out in the news this week as the #MeToo movement continues.

Here are the stories that caught our attention this week...

When you call out your former employee
One way to speak up is to call out a public figure with an op-ed in the New York Times. That's the route that former ABC and NBC executive Shelley Ross took this week. In the piece, she detailed her experience of sexual assault from 2005, including the steps he took to "evade accountability" after her husband witnessed the event.

Shelley emphasized that she doesn't see Cuomo's act as sexual in nature (which makes sense because many times assault and abuse are more about power than sex). She also made a point to say that she's not trying to get Cuomo fired, but she did call for a new kind of accountability — one that reflects the progress made in the #MeToo movement. In the early days, people like Roger Ailes would simply lose their jobs. But Shelley is making the point that if we want to move forward, and if we want to accept his public apology, then we need to see accountability like re-education and highlighting women's voices.

Instead of canceling another powerful male news anchor, Shelly wants "to see him journalistically repent: agree on air to study the impact of sexism, harassment and gender bias in the workplace, including his own, and then report on it." And we agree this kind of response will lead to more significant progress for fighting sexual harassment in the workplace moving forward.

Justice the traditional way
On September 27, a jury found R&B musician R. Kelly guilty of nine counts of racketeering and sex trafficking charges. If you haven't followed the story, this case has been in the spotlight not just because of his fame, but because it has taken decades for us to see justice served. There have been accusations against Kelly for decades that went ignored.

Many voiced celebration for a case that finally shows what it looks like when the system "works" — but with over 200,000 untested rape kits sitting in evidence across the country, we still have a long way to go.

Too many women have experienced this
One in five women are victims of either an attempted or completed sexual assault. Most people, if not a survivor themselves, most likely knows someone who is. One of the most important things *any of us* can do to help victims of sexual assault is to be ready to talk about it, and know how to respond.

Sexual coercion can happen even within a relationship. It's a sad reality that many women who are in a relationship may not even realize that their consent is being violated by partners who use manipulation and bullying tactics.

And consent is not the end of the conversation. Discussing consent is necessary, but is just one step along the path towards free and authentic love and respect.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

READ: Why Catholics Need to Talk about Sex More
We're not having enough honest conversations about sex, and Catholic women (and men!) are struggling. But by sharing our struggles, laughing at the challenges, and talking openly we can create a healthier and safer environment.

WATCH: Reconstructing Healthy Sexual Conversations about Women
In this talk, Vanessa Goldberg evaluates the harm that mainstream purity narratives can cause when they are not phrased within a holistic nature of working to understand and embrace the gift of female sexuality.

LISTEN: Home Decorating for Maximum Comfort
The spaces we live and work in have a big impact on our mindset, explains NPR's Life Kit. And creating a calm, restful space can provide stability in times of change and uncertainty. It's called "comfort decorating" — and it's just in time for fall weather.

What does it mean to say "we"?

Community has become a bit of a buzzword in recent years. It has found its place in corporate lingo, and marketers have strategized how to build community for increased ROI. There are even community "tools" that have sprung up from Silicon Valley in response to the demand for community in the digital age.

But at the heart of this trend, there is a real human need for connection...something intrinsic and fundamentally human that drives us to want to protect each other and survive "together." When we see other humans suffering, we are moved with concern. So how do we respond?

Here are the stories that occupied our hearts and minds this week...

Haitian immigrants at the border
Our hearts broke this week as video footage emerged of US Border Patrol chasing down Haitian immigrants who came to the US seeking asylum. Even if the Border Patrol were just doing their jobs, as some have defended them, many have said the images looked starkly similar to historical images of the enslavement of black people.

The White House called it "horrific," but many are calling on the administration to take further action. Leader in the UN's refugee agency even expressed serious concern about the report and that the US may not be honoring this fundamental human right.

This story comes during National Migration Week. A prayer shared by the US Catholic bishops for this week said, "Bless each act of welcome and outreach that draws those in exile into the “we” of community and of the Church." This is exactly what we need more of at the border and in our communities, and we hope this prayer will move us to action.

Gabby Petito, the girl who went missing
Have you been following the story? A coroner has officially ruled the 22-year-old's death a homicide. And they wonder why girls get nervous about traveling alone.

There are so many harrowing details from the case, but a few stood out to us. The first is how important the call to the police from someone who saw Gabby and her fiancé Brian Laundrie in a physical altercation before her death, which added valuable context to her final days, and is a strong reminder for us all to be better bystanders. The second is the number of days (11) passed before her family reported her missing after losing contact with Gabby. We don't know about you, but it makes us want to call our grandma and finally text back the friend we've been meaning to get back to for weeks.

We pray there will be justice for Gabby and peace for her family. But we are also aware of the severe disparity between media coverage of her case compared to missing women of color. The term 'missing white woman syndrome' was in the spotlight this week, and adds a gut-wrenching dose of reality to the story.

Community in our daily lives
Have you heard of the concepts of circle of concern versus circle of influence? The response of millions of people to these big headlines is the perfect example of 'circle of concern' — we care about these issues. We have an empathatic, human response to the suffering we are seeing.

But instead of pouring our energy into following the news, consider how you might respond within your circle of influence? This can look like finding out how to help refugees resettling in your area. Sending money to support aid in Haiti. Calling a friend you haven't talk to in a while. Learning domestic abuse hotlines and resources to be a better bystander. Or even saying hello to the new face you see at church this weekend.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

READ: A Place to Belong: Letters from Catholic Women
Twenty-five women from various states in life—including religious sisters, entrepreneurs, artists, and activists—explore the many ways women live out their unique attentiveness to the human person in the family, in the Church, and in the world.

WATCH: Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall (FemCatholic Book Club)
This powerful book explores the nuances of more typical feminist issues like body image and male-female dynamics, and less "common" ones like food insecurity and gun violence — all from a black feminist perspective.

LEARN: What's getting in the way of living your best life? (Webinar)
Join us for a free webinar with presenter Brya Hanan, LMFT, who will help you reflect on what's keeping you from making decisions that are true to your best self. Register now to join us for this live webinar with Q&A!

What we're watching for this week

After a particularly hard news cycle, do you ever hit a wall and just want to Netflix and chill by yourself? Bad news burnout is a thing, and knowing when to get off Twitter and relax a little is super important.

Here are a few watchable movies, shows, and events that we'll have our eyes on in the next week.

What we watch when we need to relax...
Authentic self-care can include exercising, eating well, and getting enough sleep. But there’s also space for easier and more accessible forms of self-care, like kicking back on the couch with a good show or movie. If you need to take a break and rest your heart and mind, our team has a few recommendations.

The show everyone is talking about...
Have you heard of 'The Chair' on Netflix? Starring Sandra Oh, raves and reviews have filled our newsfeeds the past few weeks. It's all about the trials and tribulations of the first woman of color to head the English department of a major university. The challenges that women in academia face are well-known, and 'The Chair' dares to tackle them with humor. If you've seen the show and have thoughts about it, let us know!

Oh's character is also a single adoptive mother — something we don't think we've seen in mainstream tv before. Stay tuned for a FemCatholic article on this special vocation.

The advice we need right now...
What's getting in the way of living your best life right now? Are there big decisions are weighing on you? The pandemic has turned the world upside down over the past year, and it may feel difficult to sort through how to make decisions, especially big ones. If you could sit down with a trusted counselor, she might help you realize subtle things that are leading you away from being happy and having clarity about how to make these decisions well.

Join us on Monday, September 27, for a webinar with Brya Hanan, licensed marriage and family therapist, who will help you reflect on what's keeping you from making the best decisions possible. You will walk away with clarity on what gets in the way of being happy and living your best life in adulthood. Register now to join us for free on this live webinar and Q&A.

OSV Innovation Challenge Virtual Showcase
FemCatholic is excited and grateful to be a finalist in the 2021 OSV Innovation Challenge! There were over 600 applicants this year, and now we are one of just 12 finalists. Three winners will receive a grant of $100,000 — which would be a GAME-CHANGER for our work!

You can tune in to show your support and hear our final pitch at 9:20 a.m. ET tomorrow, Saturday 18! Founder Samantha Povlock will present our goals for the future and answer questions from the judges. Register for the virtual showcase to cheer on FemCatholic.

We want to offer a word of gratitude for all your support and prayers that have gotten us to this point. We do this because women like you inspire us every day! And we know that we wouldn't be here without you. Thank you for being our partners in this mission for women and for the Church.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

READ: Huma Abedin Honored the Women of Afghanistan on Her Met Dress
We love seeing women using fashion to make a statement. While AOC's political statement dress got the most attention this week, she wasn't the only one who used the Met Gala red carpet to share an important message.

WATCH: How to Organize Your Schedule to Include Rest
Stressed and struggling to make time for rest? You are so not alone. In this talk from the Rest & Resilience Summit, Jackie Sunga shares the key elements you must have in your weekly schedule in order to prioritize rest in your routines.

LISTEN: Texas' abortion ban and systemic sexism against women
Gloria Purvis and Helen Alvaré (two of our heroes!) discuss what justice looks like for women in the context of Texas' recent SB8 law, and how the panic it caused may ultimately hurt the pro-life cause.

With abortion in the news, here's one way to approach tough conversations.

The Texas abortion law is historic and continues to occupy conversation around the country. Texas celebs like the Founder of Bumble are creating funds to support choice. A UN representative said America is moving backward on women’s equality. Friends and colleagues are reposting heartfelt testimonies of support for abortion rights.

You may be wondering, is encouraging people to sue each other really the best way to protect life and help women? Is this the best we can do: a tip line and bounties on women seeking a desperate solution? Those are important and valid questions.

When the hard questions are filling up your newsfeed
A woman being raped is nothing less than sickening. A fatal prenatal diagnosis is the kind of heart-wrenching situation you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. A mother struggling to feed her children should make all of us reach for our own wallets.

These are all scenarios upheld as proof of the need for an abortion. And the thing is, they’re not wrong about the utterly cruel reality women in these situations are navigating.

It’s not that these arguments for abortion are “wrong” or even “invalid” — the problem is that they are incomplete.

...Incomplete how?
Because they’re only acknowledging half of the situation, by focusing on only one of the two bodies involved in abortion. (And FWIW, groups that only focus on ‘saving babies’ are also incomplete, in failing to acknowledge women).

Helping someone by intentionally harming another person is never the answer.

But is that a person?
In some ways, the Texas law and other “heartbeat” legislation complicate the conversation around when life begins. Many people are asking: Is that tiny body truly a person? When (before, during, or after birth) is a person granted rights? These are important questions women deserve answers to before making a permanent choice.

The Catholic Church has been constant in her teaching that life begins at conception.

There is no human relationship quite like that between a mother and child in-utero. Pregnancy is a kind of biological vulnerability unlike anything else, and the fears and anxieties that many women experience when facing an unexpected or challenging pregnancy are legitimate.

Which is why we need support for moms now more than ever
This is a BIG issue. In order to alleviate some of the challenges pregnant women face, we need job protections, income stability, affordable child care, advocacy for sexual assault victims, community support whose actions are as loud as their promises, affordable and accessible maternity care, pediatric care, improved special needs services for children, affordable housing, a reformed foster care system, and more.

Even the US bishops this week expressed the importance of growing support for pregnant moms in Texas and elsewhere. Last year they launched a national movement for parishes to better support moms in need in their communities.

We all need to play our part to uphold the dignity and life of all people — babies in-utero, pregnant moms, families, and more. We’re just getting started.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

READ: The Pope Debunks 12 Gender Role Myths
Women's value isn't in having babies, being passive, or taking a back seat to men in the Catholic Church. Here's what the head of the Church really said about women.

WATCH: Hush Documentary
This Amazon Prime documentary features a pro-choice woman investigating the link between abortion and breast cancer, and what she learns about women's health along the way.

FOLLOW: @Manwhohasitall on Twitter
This hilarious and thought-provoking satire account helps us keep a sense of humor while we scroll through the news on Twitter each week. Check it ot if you need an LOL.

We're holding space to process all angles of the new Texas ruling.

Everyone is talking about Texas. We're processing how to talk about this new ruling with friends, family, and colleagues.

With your prolife aunt...
She's over the moon and saying we've been waiting years for this - "So many babies will be saved!" You know that having a baby is just the beginning, though. Moms need prenatal care, safe housing, and food... let's not even get started on affordable childcare.

In between FOX news segments, share a personal experience you have had or heard about. Maybe it's a podcast you listened to or the story of a roommate's cousin who chose not to have an abortion. You can emphasize the specific needs you know women in this situation are experiencing and say, "What can we do to support moms who would consider abortion?" Whether it's today or someday in the future, you can begin planting seeds to turn the discussion towards moms and what lawmakers need to do to support women during and after pregnancy.

With your prochoice coworker...
Your coworker doesn't usually text you about politics but this time is an exception. "Can you BELIEVE this?" She's shocked and angry that it's 2021 and women's equality is under attack. But there is still an important feminist debate about whether women's equality is best hinged on access to abortion.

Stay focused on values you share: women's equality, freedom, and overall well-being. You can reiterate, "It's so important to support women; pregnancy is such a vulnerable and life-altering thing."  Then lean into this as a chance to get to know her better — what experiences with abortion does she have? Why is this issue important to her? Use this moment to deepen your relationship as friends, don't force a discussion on politics until it comes up in a natural, safe way.

With your friend who had an abortion...
She may be feeling a whole host of things. You know her best, so trust your gut and if you feel prompted to check in on her, do it. One gentle approach would be to text her something funny and then say, "I feel like everything in the news has been really heavy lately and this made me laugh. How are you doing?" If she does want to talk, remind her she's not alone in her experiences and that she deserves to heal from anything causing her pain.

Here's a mantra for you
"Do not accept love without truth, or truth without love. One without the other is a destructive lie," said St. Pope John Paul II, quoting feminist Edith Stein. It's hard to hold space for both women and their babies, both the reality of abortion and the reality of what unplanned pregnancy means for women. But changing the narrative starts with each one of us, holding space together.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

WATCH: Learning to Love the F-word: Embracing Prolife Feminism
At the FemCatholic Conference, whole-life advocate and founder of Rehumanize International, Aimee Murphy, explores why authentic feminism is pro-life feminism.

READ: How to Respond to Women Considering an Abortion
We asked women about their experiences with abortion so we could listen learn how we can better support women facing unexpected or challenging pregnancies.

SUPPORT: Pro-Life Organizations You Should Know About
All of the groups listed here are nonpartisan, womb-to-tomb advocacy organizations. Their whole-life approach reflects the consistent life ethic that lies at the heart of Catholic social teaching.

We need to talk about how the pandemic will impact women, more than anyone.

In most parts of the country right now, the pandemic feels far from over. But with reports of women in the workplace being disproportionately impacted, it's important to start the conversation about how women will emerge from this year sooner than later.

We don't need to watch the news to know...
Research shows that the pandemic is taking a toll on women's work, health, and home life — even the most successful women. (Shocker, right?)

One of the clearest examples of how the pandemic has impacted women is the COVID baby bust. Remember back when lots of pundits thought that staying at home would result in more babies? What we actually are seeing is the opposite. According to research, this is because people usually don’t try to conceive babies when they’re stuck at home together; they try to conceive when they are confident that they will have the social support and material resources they need to parent well. Something that has been lacking throughout the pandemic.

The reality is that the lion’s share of daily stress resulting from this pandemic often falls on the shoulders of women. Shifting the way we approach career and domestic responsibilities starts with choosing solidarity over gender norms — whether at home with your spouse or in structures at work.

Middle school came to an end - and one day the pandemic will, too.
What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. So we're already thinking about a few ways to move forward. In fact, women might be in a unique position to bring healing to a post-pandemic world, with mercy, empathy, and the ability to see people as more than an ideology.

Moving forward could be in little ways, like planning a new makeup and skincare routine for post-mask life. Or big ways, like advocating for policy changes at work to better support women in this new era.  

Planning ahead for a return to the office can make for a better work-life balance and help make up for lost connections at work.

One thing we know for sure
Whether it's navigating crisis, or the plans to rebuild, women leaders are here to stay.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

WATCH: Webinar: "Vaccination is a Life Issue"
The LMU Center for Religion and Spirituality is hosting an important discussion about the COVID-19 vaccine from a Catholic perspective, featuring a panel of experts and moderated by New York Times best-selling author Jeannie Gaffigan.

READ: Is Everyone Hanging Out without Me? (And Other Concerns)
If you're missing drama from the "before times," pick up this hilarious memoir by Mindy Kaling. She'll have you laughing like it's 2013 with her fun and relatable approach to friendship, romance, and more.

LISTEN: The Glass Cliff
In this episode of 'The New Way We Work,' researcher Michelle Ryan shares what we need to know about the "glass cliff" — a phenomenon where women are elevated to positions of power when things are going poorly, and therefore put in a situation where they have a greater likelihood to fail.

The news this week was heartbreaking.

It's rare to get a positive news cycle these days, but this week was especially heartbreaking.  If you're left reeling, you're not alone. But here's how we're processing the news.

Sadness is the right reaction
News of the situations in Haiti and Afghanistan left us nearly in tears. We couldn't even bring ourselves to watch some of the footage from the Kabul airport as people went to extreme measures in an attempt to flee the country.

Back home, surging COVID cases and reports of full hospitals made the week even more challenging. And women's gift for empathy can make taking in news of the suffering in the world even harder.

But that's why we need women in leadership more than ever. JPII wrote about women's unique ability to see "the other" beyond any ideological or political systems, and Edith Stein explained that this capacity is rooted in empathy. Seeing such pain in the world can even make us question our faith or feel angry with God to see the world suffering like this. However you feel about the situation, it's okay to offer that up in a quick prayer.

Pray Together
Pope Francis prayed on Sunday from the Vatican and took to Twitter this week to invite us to pray together for the people of Haiti and Afghanistan.

"#LetUsPray for Afghanistan, so that the clamour of weapons might cease and solutions can be found at the table of dialogue. Only thus can the battered population of that country return to their own homes and live in peace."  

"#LetUsPray also for Haiti. I want to express my closeness to the dear people hard hit by the earthquake. May the solidarity of all alleviate the consequences of the tragedy!"

Support
We might feel helpless to solve the worlds' problems, but there are people who are on the ground making a difference. Catholic Relief Services is providing relief to the people most in need in Haiti, and need your support. Never believe the lie that your efforts — whether prayer, action, or advocacy — don't make a difference. Women are in a unique position to bring healing to the world.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

READ: How Advocating for Women Promotes Peace in the World
Women are needed at all levels of conflict management, because our gifts uniquely equip us to find solutions to establish peace. But if women are such effective peacemakers, why are they not placed in positions of greater influence?

WATCH: Moving Through the Dark Emotions: Anger, Fear, and Hopelessness
This talk by Jeannie Ewing from the Rest & Resilience Summit explores the painful feelings we tend to numb, deny, or repress — and how each of these emotions can mentor us through hardships and loss.

FOLLOW: Follow: Brya Hanan, LMFT
Brya Hanan is a Catholic Therapist whose Instagram content is full of great tips for integrating faith & mental health, encouraging vulnerability, and offering hope and compassion. She offers great support during hard weeks like this.

Female Olympians Were Next-Level Inspiring

As bummed as we are that the Olympics are over, we can't help but look back and celebrate all that women accomplished in Tokyo this year.

Winning on the real issues
Swimmer Katie Ledecky took home two gold and two silver medals in the 2021 games. Her new total of 6 individual gold medals is the most of any female US Olympian.

She doesn't let the success go to her head, though. After finishing 5th in the 200m free she said, “I think people maybe feel bad for me that I’m not winning everything but I want people to be more concerned about other things going on in the world where people are truly suffering."

It's about more than sports, though
Track star Allyson Felix made headlines even before the games began by partnering with sponsor Athleta to created a fund to support athletes who are mothers. That's a cause close to her heart — in 2018 Nike responded to news of her pregnancy by reducing her endorsement deal by 70%.

In an Instagram post from June she wrote, "The world doesn't need more shoes, but the world does need to see women wholly and meet them right where they are." We couldn't agree more.

She isn't the only one who knows that there's more to life than sports. Gymnastics star Simone Biles seriously impressed us with her example of solidarity — both with her teammates at the games and with gymnastics abuse victims around the sport.

Girl power
They're just a few of the dozens of female medalists from the US — in fact, if US women alone were a country, they'd still be in the top five for overall medal. Now that's some serious girl power.

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

READ: You Have More In Common with Olympic Athletes Than You Think
We may never know what it's like to win an Olympic medal, but we are all given unique talents, coaches, and the right DNA to run our race. It’s what we do with all those gifts that determines the outcome.

WATCH: 'Women Are Not Small Men' TED Talk by Dr. Stacey Sims
The sports performance industry has a gender bias. But Dr. Stacey Sims is s helping female athletes around the world by empowering them to understand their bodies and hack their routines for better performance.

LISTEN: Nastia Liukin on How to Win (and Lose) at Work
Olympic lessons apply to life beyond the gymnastics floor. Gold medalists Nastia Liukin opened up the ladies on '9 to 5ish' about blocking out external noise, moving on from failure, how to hype yourself up, and more.

How We're Celebrating Edith Stein on Monday

August 9 is the feast day of Edith Stein, a.k.a. St. Teresa Benedict of the Cross, a.k.a. patron saint of FemCatholic. We picked her day to announce new developments that will help us carry out our mission for women and for the Church.

What was she known for?
Edith has always inspired us because literally almost a hundred years ago she was giving speeches on women’s equality to Catholic groups around Europe. She was a legit philosopher in her field, but experienced discrimination and wasn't able to get the same jobs as men - still, she kept using her intellect.

After reading the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila, Edith became Catholic (she was agnostic Jewish before) and joined the Carmelite Order as a religious sister. In 1942, she was killed by Nazis at Auschwitz.

The church canonized her just over 50 years later (which is super quick!). 🙌

If you don't know, now you know
Throughout her life, Edith never stopped pondering the role of women in the world and in the Church. She wrote, "We cannot evade the question as to what we are and what we should be."

In her writing after becoming Catholic, Edith championed forming the feminine soul, which helped inspire our series on "The Feminine Genius at Work."

Brilliant Catholic Feminists are still at work today
Actually, we should all be. And it doesn't mean you have to choose between women and the Church. (Can I get a both/and?!)

Here are a few other top picks for the week...

READ: Two New Books Celebrate the Diversity of Women
These books illustrate the countless ways in which women live out their gifts every day. They feature letters written by women in a variety of professions, and in both secular and Catholic organizations.

WATCH: Meghan Markle calls for female mentorship on her 40th birthday
In a funny video with comedian Melissa McCarthy, the Duchess of Sussex launched a new initiative called 40x40 that encourages more women mentoring women in a "global wave of service."

LISTEN: Edith Stein and the Feminine Soul
This talk by Catherine Pakuluk (Professor of Social Research and Economic Thought) is a great overview on the life and legacy of our girl, Edith Stein. She shares six key takeaways from Edith's writing on women and the Church.