Making Sense of the Week That Was — “This Women’s Work” edition
Grey Swan Guild — News Wrap Edition: Aug 27, 2021 #32 of Vol. 1
Theme: This Women’s Work. Editor: Antonia Nicols
Editor’s Note: Normally, The Week That Was tracks and makes sense of breaking news stories during the week prior along the lines of The Great, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, and The Grey. All editors submit pieces for the week, and the weekly editor finds the sense-making “through-line” during the compiling of stories.
This week, however, the evolving situation for women and girls in Afghanistan has weighed heavily on our collective minds, as has the changing nature of women in the workplace, at home, and in society. For this edition, I established the theme “This Women’s Work” — shout out to Kate Bush — and our editors sourced content illuminating it.
While this week’s Wrap is through the lens of “women’s work”, the content could also be viewed through the lens of the single parent, the disenfranchised, or anyone with a non-traditional domestic or work situation; which is to say, almost all of us. We are reminded that no GDP calculation factors in domestic work, most often completed by women. That is an ultimate devaluation and misunderstanding of the human condition.
As we explored the theme, we also realized that you can hardly discuss “women’s work” without also touching on partnerships and alliances: with governments, society, partners, friends, and with the community. As the role of women evolves (or backslides, depending on your point of view) across the world, the creation and design of partnerships do as well.
On a personal note, as someone not subject to many of the traditional feminine roles (I am not currently a mother, wife, or caretaker), I am re-examining my definition of “women’s work” and creating my own non-traditional partnerships, such as:
- Editing this Grey Swan Guild Wrap and ideating on new ways forward with the Wrap and Clubhouse with some of my fellow editors, NONE of whom I have ever met in person.
- Running a household with my non-romantic “domestic partner”, aka my cousin. (He’s an excellent cook, does a great job with the yard, and really gets my family dynamics).
- Partnering with one full and one step-sibling in supporting our parents financially (complicated, fraught at times, but very Team Family).
- Creating a potential new business/retirement model with a friend, former business associate and, like me, a single professional woman. Group housing a la Exotic Marigold Hotel for single retirees in exotic locations is going to be where it’s at in the future. Federal government, Airbnb and VRBO, take note.
What are your ideas about “women’s work” and the direction it is going? Where are you experiencing unexpected and fruitful partnerships?
Please join us and share your thoughts on Sunday, Aug 29th, 2021 at 8:00am (PST) | 11am (EST) | 4pm (BST) on Clubhouse led by Howard A Fields and Agustín Borrazás to engage with your favourite Grey Swan Guild Wrap Editors, including Sean Moffitt, Doyle Buehler, Rob Tyrie, Ben Thurman, Louise Mowbray, and Antonia Nicols.
It’s time to wrap.
Clubhouse Follow up: Last week on Clubhouse we uncovered the various ways people are addressing their stress, like ASMR therapy or watching domino champion videos. Editor Louise Mowbray surfaced this article about using Lego for Serious Play, aka innovation and performance.
The Great 😇
1.A glimmer of hope. USAID, in partnership with the US Embassy of Uzbekistan, hosted a Female Workforce Empowerment Summit this month. The Summit set up a high-level dialogue platform to highlight the contribution of women from Central Asia and India performing various roles to tackle COVID-19 implications and address post-pandemic challenges and discussed the potential of women in the workforce, post-pandemic trends, and opportunities to bridge the gender disparity. We will be watching this space to see if USAID releases any outcomes.
2. Women around the world at work… and leading. Jacinda Ardern has become a LinkedIn sensation with her live stream updates, decisive crisis management and polarizing reputation at home and abroad. Most agree she leads with empathy, though not all agree with the direction her empathy takes. This article from the Atlantic last year talks about some lessons world — and corporate — leaders could take away from Ardern’s example. On the other hand, Samoa recently accused Ardern of meddling in their Prime Minister election, apparently because Ardern called to congratulate the new (female) PM. Her latest move to lock down New Zealand again met with some harsh criticism, but perhaps none as harsh as the memes that surfaced after her health minister encouraged the public to “spread their legs” while social distancing. Oy vey. Consider this link as the “Meme of the Week”. For all the noise, we at the Wrap are happy that Ardern’s leadership gives rise to serious discussions about the role of empathy in society, which we consider long overdue.
3. We will tell you what we, really really want. With so much in the news about Afghanistan, it was actually tough to source “great news about women” this week. Fortunately, UN Women came to the rescue with their website, which highlighted female Moldovan entrepreneurs, Ugandan law reforms against domestic violence, and encouraging gender-inclusive peace processes, among other stories.
The Good 😀
1. This week’s Ginger Rogers (“backwards and in high heels”) moment. Last week, it was widely reported that athlete Alysia Montaño won the US national championship 800-metres race while pregnant. She actually ran and didn’t win, but this doesn’t take away her remarkable achievements as a pregnant athlete and nursing mother. Surprisingly (or perhaps not) you have to go to Glamour as opposed to Sports Illustrated to understand what a remarkable athlete Alysia Montaño is. Cheers to Lori Fairley for putting this on our radar.
2. Sisters are doing it for themselves. Collaborations between Black women are sparking a golden age for female hip-hop. “A year and a half ago in comparison to now, the field has expanded so much,” says Carl Chery from Spotify. “You’re seeing women who emerged as early as two years ago become stars. We’ve never seen this. I don’t think there’s ever been this many female rap stars, ever.”
3. Speaking of partnerships, there are some intriguing ones developing, including one between Tinder and Lyft as people start to transition back into IRL dating, as well as women partnering with gig-work apps to support their families while maintaining scheduling flexibility. This latter activity applies to all single caregivers.
The Bad 😬
1.No Room of One’s Own. In the record wave of research on COVID-19 and everything, Nature Magazine detected a decline in woman authors. Their hypothesis is that, as lock-down commenced and child care options plummeted, women primarily took over household duties and had no time to write while men did. Fix, please.
2. Working 9–9. Women leaving the workforce are costing the US Economy over $650 billion — with a B. This is something we can’t afford. Fast Company offers us some potential solutions.
3. Don’t forget me when I’m gone. For all the strides that women have made, there is still a birth selection bias at work in many parts of the world. We at the Guild are wondering about the long-term implications of a society without women. Medical News Daily estimates “Fewer-than-expected females in a population could result in elevated levels of antisocial behavior and violence, and may ultimately affect long-term stability and socially sustainable development.” The commodification of women is not the way, folks.
The Ugly 🤢
1. Too upsetting for a pithy title. We’ve been hearing about it, but Georgia State has studied an increase in domestic partner aggression during lock-down. A surprising (and disturbing) finding from the study noted that “pandemic stress didn’t really tip the scales towards violence among heavy drinkers, but for non-heavy drinkers, all bets were off.” Please check in on women you care about.
2.” I prefer to die rather than to go on with them.” For some women in Afghanistan, prioritization just got much simpler. This is an article that hit the GSG editors hard, along with this quote from a female mayor in Afghanistan, who started preparing herself to be killed for the simple act of serving as an elected official. She’s still alive as of publication, but she will probably need to keep making noise to stay that way. There are many brave women speaking out in Afghanistan despite the risks and almost certain death. The first Afghan female fighter pilot has been very clear about what she thinks will happen to women — and the families who support them.
3. Just hateful. The Institute of Strategic Dialogue in London conducted the largest ever study of hate speech on Tiktok. In a sample of 1,030 videos “compiled from a library of common hashtags and phrases deployed by fringe groups — there was egregious content about all manner of protected groups.” This content is very difficult to block on Tiktok because of the algorithm they use. The bottom line is that hate speech is here to stay; the question is how people can offset it in their communities, partnerships, and families. Is this the price for free speech? Stop the toxic. We’d want to hear your ideas on Clubhouse this Sunday.
The Grey Zone of Uncertainty 🦢
1. A mixed blessing. If you have read some of the horrific stories coming out of Afghanistan lately pertaining to the fate of women and girls and have asked yourself, “What could I do?” here’s how one Oklahoma woman, a mother of 11, helped the Afghan female robotics team escape to Qatar, though she and the BBC stress that the girls saved themselves. Unsure if this is “Great” because the escape was successful, or “Ugly” that escape was necessary. The girls are now in Mexico and have pledged to continue to support women and girls in Afghanistan. Wonderful that they are safe. Sad that these women are without their families and afraid for their relatives’ safety. The youngest is 15 years old.
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We continue to mine uncertainty and would love your help in our Weathervane survey #4 — Here to Stay or Going Away.
Click here and combine our experiences here: https://bit.ly/gsgweathervane4
The Tapestry 🎨 Weaving the News
Quote of the Week — And now, for a palate-cleanser
Thank goodness for Dolly Parton and 15 of her best quotes to live by, courtesy of Southern Living. We love you, Dolly, and not just because you said “Storms make trees take deeper roots.” Wisdom is where we choose to find it, and we are grateful for luminescent gems like Dolly, who make this simple.
Also this quote: “Like, wow, I’m able to use my brain and also I have a uterus. That’s crazy!” — Alysia Montaño
Chart of the Week — A Gender-Responsive Procurement Ecosystem
Data — Covid 19 Impact — Women Leaving Workforce Politico
Data — The Numbers don't Lie. Employers do — Pay InEquity
Data this Women’s Work — Change Can Happen — The majority of physicians 44 years old or younger in the US, are women
Picture — Leaving Kabul, Afghanistan — August 2021
About Us:
This week is #32 of a compendium of stories and headlines we’re tracking in the Grey Swan Guild’s Global League of Sensemakers’ Newsroom. Imagine a newsroom that went deeper, had little bias (and none unconscious), and didn’t have to get their points across as 40-second sound bytes or linkbait headlines, That’s us.
Beyond our week that was, we host sense-making events every month. Check the Grey Swan Calendar ← here — for upcoming futurist topics and ways to engage with our 300+ members.
We are on summer hours but the next Atelier is coming soon — Sept 16 — ” On Earth and Beyond to Space. Our quest to understand, discover, and get ahead of our fragile and far frontiers both near are far, the mysteries that abound.” Join by clicking the link.
We continue to mine uncertainty and would love your help in our Weathervane survey #4 — Here to Stay or Going Away.
Click here to see a compilation of all of the Grey Swan Guild offerings: https://bit.ly/gsgweathervane4
That’s the Wrap! Your thoughts?
Why not join us on Sunday, Aug 29th, 2021 at 8:00am (PST) | 11am (EST) | 4pm (BST) on Clubhouse led by Howard A Fields and Agustín Borrazás to engage with your favorite Grey Swan Guild Wrap Editors, including Sean Moffitt, Rob Tyrie, Ben Thurman, Louise Mowbray and Antonia Nicols. let’s talk Edition #31. Join Our Clubhouse #31 to do the whirlwind in real-time — https://www.clubhouse.com/join/grey-swan-guild/QLrkGYpD/mW1D8a2n
Make Submissions to The Wrap any time on The Grey Swan Guild’s LinkedIn Page, with the hashtag #TheWrap. Be pithy, be wry, be relaxed and make some sense of the news with us. It’s a place we hang out during the week too. Join the conversation there and share your ideas, hopes, and worries with us. We are in this together for a reason.
