Special Collections:
Equal Rights for Women and Girls
The 2010 TEDWomen conference explored how women and girls reshape the future. TEDxBaltimoreWomen continues this vital conversation about women's work and lives.
Ekemini Udofa, Ph.D., a Senior Associate in Philanthropy Advisory Service at FasterCures, contributed to this discussion.
This content was published on December 23, 2013.
This presentation explores the lost economic opportunity due to women's underrepresentation in STEM careers. Evidence includes falling graduation rates for girls and young women in STEM fields, and women holding less than 30% of STEM-related jobs.
It features comments from Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and columnist Libby Dodd, with illustrations by Judith Gosse.
Produced and written by Ruth Ann Barrett of EarthSayers.tv, this content was published on February 24, 2015.
Published on February 19, 2015, the discussion "Dissecting the Diversity Problem: How Can Leadership Make an Impact?" addressed the critical lack of representation in digital technology. Despite the ubiquity of tech, its creators—who increasingly influence policy—rarely reflect the populations most impacted. Women and people of color comprise less than 30% of STEM professionals, a figure that has declined since 1990, highlighting a systemic failure.
This vital conversation, under the theme "Technology for the People, by the People," featured insights from U.S. CTO Megan Smith, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, New America President Anne-Marie Slaughter, and Code for Progress Program Director Aliya Rahman. The panel also included Open Technology Institute's Georgia Bullen and was moderated by Alan Davidson.
Hillary Rodham Clinton joined Mayor Rahm Emanuel to discuss her tenure as U.S. Secretary of State. She reflected on the crises, choices, and challenges encountered, and how these experiences shape her perspective on the future.
This conversation was published by Chicago Ideas West on June 18, 2014. Her latest book is available for purchase on Amazon or at your local bookstore.
Today, women actively participate in churches and cathedrals, singing, preaching, and praying publicly. In a society questioning the church's relevance, does this evolving role truly make a difference?
Reverend Lucy Winkett addresses this topic in her thoughtful lecture, "Faith in Women: The Changing Role of Women and Girls in the Church." Explore her inspiring insights on finding your voice in today's church by reading the transcript here.
This discussion focuses on women's economic empowerment in the Pacific, featuring Amy Luinstra (International Finance Corporation), Joanne Crawford (International Women's Development Agency), and Amanda Donigi (Stella Magazine, PNG). Luinstra is involved with Papua New Guinea's Business Coalition for Women, the Pacific's first organization of its kind.
Globally, women earn less than men, are half as likely to hold full-time jobs, and their incomes are 10-30% lower. Only 24% of senior management roles worldwide are held by women. Journalist Auskar Surbakti moderates this discussion, originally published on June 30, 2014.
A World Bank Group report, published May 14, 2014, reveals that girls with limited education face significantly higher risks of child marriage, domestic violence, poverty, and a lack of autonomy in health and spending. These disadvantages negatively impact them, their children, and their communities.
Jeni Klugman, the World Bank Group's Director of Gender and Development, leads initiatives promoting gender equality, building on the institution's priorities established after the 2012 World Development Report.
Emerging Women Live celebrates women leaders and entrepreneurs, promoting an integrated approach to success. The second annual Emerging Women Live Conference will take place in New York City from October 9-12, 2014.
Register here.
Aisha Sani Abdullahi faced early blindness and child labor in Kano, Nigeria, but a chance encounter transformed her life. "Aisha's Song" is an uplifting film beautifully depicting her story of female empowerment in a region where women are often overlooked.
The film was made by Grain Media for Girl Hub, a strategic collaboration between the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) and the Nike Foundation.
Girl Hub empowers adolescent girls in poverty, unleashing their potential to end poverty for themselves, their families, and communities. Visit their site to learn more about the film's core issues.
President Jimmy Carter discusses his new book, *A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence and Power*.
To order the book, visit Amazon, your local bookstore, or library.
This short video captures highlights from the 2014 American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. At the invitation of Nancy Foye-Cox and with support from Sally Gutierrez, I moderated a wisdom circle of women ASPA leaders. I also attended the keynote by Dr. Bernice Sandler, "the godmother of Title IX," and celebrated Nancy Foye-Cox receiving the Marcia P. Crowley Award for service to the Section on Women in Public Administration (SWPA).
Our shared friendship—mine, Sally's, and Nancy's—exemplifies the power of women supporting women in the workplace, challenging the notion that they do not. The video features music, *Frammenti*, by Andrea Carri.
Jensine Larsen, an award-winning social media entrepreneur and international journalist, founded World Pulse. This action media network connects 50,000 women from 190 countries.
She pioneered World Pulse magazine, citizen journalism training, and an interactive website, empowering women globally to share their stories and collaborate on solutions, even from remote areas. A global speaker, she appears on platforms like NPR and TED.
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, in his bestseller "Half the Sky," recommends World Pulse as a top way to support women globally.
Congresswoman Bella Abzug's pivotal role in securing equal credit for women is featured in a 1983 mock American Express ad.
This ad was created during a conference at the Center for American Women and Politics, showcasing Abzug's advocacy. Learn more about Bella Abzug.
Gender inequality severely restricts opportunities for girls and women in the poorest countries. Empowering women and girls is crucial for combating poverty, hunger, and disease, and for fostering sustainable development.
IDA, the World Bank's Fund for the Poorest, actively expands girls' access to education and creates empowerment opportunities. As the largest source of concessional finance for low-income countries, IDA critically invests in women's health, education, and equal economic access, demonstrating tangible impact.
Breaking down barriers to gender equality in education, employment, and entrepreneurship would create new sources of economic growth.
For more information, visit the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) gender site.
The Equality Effect is an innovative non-profit organization uniting human rights experts from Kenya, Malawi, Ghana, and Canada. They conduct groundbreaking legal work to advance women's and girls' human rights.
Drawing on the Canadian experience, the organization promotes empowerment through equality research and practical initiatives. These include public legal education, policy reform, and test case litigation, all designed to achieve tangible change.
Their primary focus areas are violence against women, the feminization of HIV/AIDS, and women's property rights. For more information or to donate, please visit theequalityeffect.com.
Luisa Daniel Perez's life transformed through a small loan, business and empowerment training, and a supportive environment.
Her story demonstrates how these resources enabled her to positively impact her community. Watch to learn more about her journey and the change she is catalyzing.
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed U.S. Constitutional amendment designed to guarantee equal rights for women. For further information, consult resources like the Equality4women and EqualRightsAmendment websites.
The ERA's core provisions state that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex. Congress would have the power to enforce this article, which would take effect two years after ratification.
Goal 3 focuses on empowering women. A significant challenge is that one in seven girls in developing countries marries before the age of 15.
The "7 Billion Others" project created new films across 16 countries to highlight the Millennium Development Goals.
For more information, visit Development Matters.
The MC Human Rights Hall of Fame honored Dr. Bernice Sandler, who discussed her lifelong advocacy for women. Sandler was instrumental in developing and passing Title IX and other laws prohibiting sex discrimination in education. The *New York Times* called her the “godmother of Title IX.”
Sandler also addressed the “chilly climate”—subtle discrimination against women and minorities, such as reduced contact or praise—which Title IX does not fully cover.
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The Thinking Game | Full documentary | Tribeca Film Festival official selection
“The Thinking Game” is the inside story of DeepMind's groundbreaking AI research, culminating in the Nobel Prize-winning AlphaFold breakthrough. Filmed over five years by the award-winning team behind "AlphaGo," this documentary explores co-founder Demis Hassabis's lifelong pursuit of artificial general intelligence and the rigorous scientific journey from mastering strategy games to solving the 50-year-old protein folding problem.
Following its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival, "The Thinking Game" is now available to watch for free. For those interested in hosting a screening for a classroom, community, or workplace, visit: rocofilms.com/films/the-thinking-game/.






















