The Women Change Worlds blog of the Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW) encourages WCW scholars and colleagues to respond to current news and events; disseminate research findings, expertise, and commentary; and both pose and answer questions about issues that put women's perspectives and concerns at the center of the discussion.

WCW's Women Change Worlds Blog

Unraveling Power Structures in Sports
Laura Pappano
Women Change Worlds
As I reflected earlier this month on National Girls & Women in Sports Day, it felt different this year. Rather than a pumped-up opportunity to celebrate strides—the sweat, guts, and proficiency of female athletes—my conscience urges reflection. I can’t write about National Girls & Women in...
Why the #MeToo Movement Disrupts the Creeping Commodification of Feminism
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
This blog was originally posted by the International Press Service News Agency and is reproduced with permission from the author. As the 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations in New York draws near, women from every corner ...
Five Ways to Support Social and Emotional Learning with Children’s Books
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
The fifth-grader’s voice was full of emotion as he shouted, “That’s not fair! What a mean thing to do!” He wasn’t upset about an event on the playground, or on the school bus. This student was reacting to an incident described in a picture book entitled Yoon and the Jade Bracelet, ...
How the Power of Representation Transformed My Wellesley Experience
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
By the end of my first year at Wellesley College, I knew that I wanted to explore the world of research. I had taken the first of many gender studies courses to come, and left class with a head full of questions that I not only wanted answers to, but wanted to take a stake at answering. A stroke of luck brought me to an event for students to meet with research scientists at the Wellesley ...
#MeToo—Changing Brains, Relationships and Power Dynamics
Amy Banks
Women Change Worlds
This blog was originally posted on Psychology Today and is reproduced with the permission of the author. The #MeToo movement is giving a viral voice to women (and men) who have been the targets of violence and harassment. It...
What’s Our Resolution to Progress Gender Balance in the Workplace?
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
As we enter 2018 with eager anticipation, it is a natural part of the transition into the new year to establish personal and career resolutions. Many business leaders consider ways to refresh the strategy for their organizations seeking to answer questions such as “How can my team help our organization achieve its goals with a greater impact?” For Capgemini’s North ...
My Visit to MarketPlace: Handwork of India
Nan Stein
Women Change Worlds
I have been a fan of MarketPlace: Handwork of India for decades, not simply because it is a Fair Trade organization but also because I love their clothing. I am the happy owner of many of their shirts (long and short sleeved), dresses (winter and summer), jackets, and wraps. Some of my clothes are ...
What Happens to Gender Pay Gap Among College Educated?
Sari Kerr
Women Change Worlds
We all have heard it, women earn about 20 percent less than men. But when, how, and why does the gap emerge? Everyone has an opinion on it, and these opinions range widely – which leads to many frustrating public opinion exchanges. Are we eternally stuck in a rut arguing about what the ...
Adding a Lone African American to its Board is Unlikely to Solve Facebook’s Diversity Challenges
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
 In a meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus earlier in October, Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg, made a public commitment to appoint an African American to its currently all-white board of directors – in the foreseeable future. The promise came ...
#MeToo is a step forward, but it's time for bystanders and perpetrators to stand up
Linda Williams
Women Change Worlds
I applaud the strength and solidarity of the women (and men, too) who are asserting with the hashtag #MeToo, that they are among the estimated one in five women who ...
In India, Action to End Child Marriage Has a Long Way to Go
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
The Supreme Court of India ruled last week that sex with one’s wife under 18 years of age will be deemed as rape for which the husband can face up to 10 years of imprisonment. This judgement, being hailed ...
Envisioning a World of Feminist Peace
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
Since 1981, the United Nations has observed International Day of Peace on September 21. In its resolution, the UN marked the day as a “globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.” But how far along are we...
Back to School, This Time with Social and Emotional Learning
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
It’s back-to-school time and families, youth, and educators must adjust their schedules for another school year. In the midst of the forms and information families receive – or that get “lost” in a child’s backpack or locker – you may have heard something about a social and emotional learning (...
Developing Babies’ Literacy Skills
Wendy Robeson
Women Change Worlds
Friday, September 8, is International Literacy Day! In my opinion, every day should be called Literacy Day given its critical importance to all. This is especially true for very young children as developing language and pre-literacy skills are paramount to later academic success...
New Messages in Boston Race Protests
Amy Hoffman
Women Change Worlds
In 1973, when I was 21, I dropped out of college in New Jersey and moved to Boston. I didn’t have a clear plan or strong reason for the move. A girl I knew, on whom I was developing a huge crush, had relocated here; so had my boyfriend (life was complicated). The bookstores in Harvard Square stayed open until midnight—in contrast to the town I’d grown up in, which had...
Reflections on Charlottesville
Layli Maparyan
Women Change Worlds
Why has it been so hard to eliminate racism in the United States, despite concerted and valiant efforts, ever-growing numbers of people of goodwill, lots of good thinking about the issue, and some clear-cut progress and gains over the years? As a researcher and director of the Wellesley Centers for Women, a research institute with a demonstrated commitment to gender equality, social ...
13 Reasons Why and the Need for Correct Messages About Teen Depression and Suicide
Tracy Gladstone
Women Change Worlds
By now, parents and professionals have reacted to the new Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why. Mental health advocates and school administrators have highlighted the risks of depicting suicide as a means of revenge, of dramatizing teen suicide, and of showing school counselors as uncaring and ...
A Week to Appreciate Afterschool Professionals – April 24-28
Elizabeth Starr
Women Change Worlds
It’s Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week! Perhaps we should back up - what is an Afterschool Professional? Maybe you call them staff, teachers, or care providers. There are many names for the same thing – someone trained to work with youth during out-of-school time. This ...
Female Kicker Makes History
Laura Pappano
Women Change Worlds
When Arizona high school senior Becca Longo on Wednesday officially signed on to be a kicker for Division II Adams State University Football, it was notable for a key ...
Supporting Housing Stability for Victims of Domestic Violence, Stalking, and Sexual Assault
April Pattavina
Women Change Worlds
This policy brief originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2016 Research & Action Report from the Wellesley Centers for Women as part of the multi-media series Advancing the Status of Women & Girls, Families & Communities: PolicyRecommendations for the Next U.S. President. ...
For the Trailblazing Women Who Mentor Me
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
January is National Mentoring Month, a time to recognize the value of mentoring in all its forms. Kavindya Thennakoon ‘19, a student assistant in the WCW communications department, reflects on the profound impact that mentors have had on her path to Wellesley ...
Year-End Reflections: 2016
Layli Maparyan
Women Change Worlds
2016 was an intense year. The Wall Street Journal’s Year in Review captured the feeling quite well with this headline: “The World Order in Flux.” It has felt that way not only in the geopolitical sphere, but also in the ecological sphere and the psychological sphere. ...
World AIDS Day: Reflections and Hopes from an African Village
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
The Pearl Community Empowerment Foundation, (PCE) my persistent mission and struggle, is building a firm foundation for Uganda's rural young people as well as shaping the attitude and consciousness of the grassroots people. This World AIDS Day, ...
VAW: A Call to Action
Linda Williams
Women Change Worlds
Yesterday was the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women—is the glass half empty of half full?  It is clear that this day calling for the elimination of violence against women is still necessary—in fact, it is crucial. Despite notable ...
Three Activities to Help Students Deepen Their Gratitude
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
This article originally appeared in Greater Good, the online magazine of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. It’s one thing ...
Approaching Adulthood: Assisting Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
In 1954, the United Nations established Universal Children’s Day (November 20) to promote togetherness and children’s rights. It is a day that reminds and encourages us to work towards a better future by improving the wellbeing of children all across the globe. In recognition of Universal Children’s Day, Joan Wallace-Benjamin, ...
Thoughts on the Safety Pin--To Wear or Not
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
The International Day of Tolerance (November 16) was established in 1995 by the United Nations to help increase public awareness of the dangers of intolerance. In our current climate of heightened intolerance both in public discourse and acts of violence, we need no reminders--but we do need clarity and strategies to build our strength and effectiveness as activists who choose to respond ...
November 9th Reflections: Through Harriet Tubman’s Eyes
Layli Maparyan
Women Change Worlds
We have a new President-Elect. For many of us, on either side of the aisle, it is not what we expected. My daughter cried when I told her, not just because she is a girl, but also because she is an immigrant. She is scared, and I, as her mother, had to reassure her that life will go on and that we will be okay even if there will be new challenges. It occurred to me that this is the ...
What’s Next: Coming Together
Layli Maparyan
Women Change Worlds
Since voting this morning, all I have been able to think about is the next four years. Without even knowing yet who is going to win, my mind has already jumped ahead. What do we want the next four years to be like? What can we do to make them be the way we want them to be? The negativity of the last 18 months has been excruciating, and I know it doesn’t represent the best of who we ...
Preventing Depression in Young People
Tracy Gladstone
Women Change Worlds
This policy brief originally appeared in the Spring/Summer 2016 Research & Action Report from the Wellesley Centers for Women as part of the multi-media series Advancing the Status of Women & Girls, Families & Communities: Policy Recommendations for the Next U.S. President. ...
Partnerships are Critical to Student Success
Elizabeth Starr
Women Change Worlds
The days are getting shorter, the air feels crisper here in the Northeast, and children everywhere are heading back to school -- a welcome return to routine and to the exciting possibilities of a new year, but still it’s hard to let go of summer. Fresh and sweet in our minds here at the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST) (and ...
Encouraging Girls to Pursue STEM
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
Females outnumber their male colleagues in higher education, tend to get better grades, yet do not proportionately pursue STEM-related (...
The New $20 Bill: A Victory for Women, or, Happy about Harriet!
Layli Maparyan
Women Change Worlds
One of my favorite footnotes in the world appears at the bottom of the first page of the Combahee River Collective Statement in the first edition of Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology on page 272. It reads, “The Combahee River Collective was a ...
The Value of Mentorship: A Personal Reflection
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
Two summers ago I started what I thought would just be a summer job at the Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW), with Georgia Hall, Ph.D, a senior research scientist with the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST). ...
Fighting... Women in Sports
Laura Pappano
Women Change Worlds
I’m not an athletic purist, one who finds poetry in the elemental mano-a-mano competition of strength, agility and smarts (sigh, yes, I know there’s strategy) of boxing and mixed martial arts, which include grappling moves. Honestly, I just don’t enjoy seeing people...
Connecting with You in 2016
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
People of all ages are spending more time on smartphones or tablets. Did you know that smartphone users are expected to increase to 70 percent of the global population, or 6.1 billion phones, by 2020? In the past couple of years many have experienced the phenomena of selfie sticks, and wearable ...
An OST Quality Case Study
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
Photo courtesy of MELC My father-in-law used to say that getting old is not for the faint of heart. It takes a dogged determination to persevere while keeping on top of new issues that arise. I think the pursuit of quality in out-of-school time is similar. That effort is long-term and takes group effort, not just individual commitment. Just as there are services and doctors to help the ...
Re-thinking Self-esteem
Maureen Walker
Women Change Worlds
If there is one notion that’s likely to receive nearly unanimous validation in contemporary culture, it’s that self-esteem is a good thing. While there may not be agreement on what is it or how to do it, its elevated placement in Maslow’s hierarchy has led to the notion ...
MotherStruck!
WCW admin
Women Change Worlds
This article was originally published on Huffington Post and is posted with permission by the author. Reproductive freedom. What do these words mean? ...
Professional Development is a Key to Quality
Elizabeth Starr
Women Change Worlds
On December 10th, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which includes several provisions for out-of-school time (...
Local and Global Perspectives on Human Rights, Drugs, Crime, Women and Children
Erika Kates
Women Change Worlds
Substance abuse among women in Massachusetts is increasing dramatically. It is also a worldwide problem. Locally and globally we need to work for a public health model that is responsive to human rights concerns and effective in protecting families and communities. The United Nations will be holding a General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) in...
The Right to Research: How Data Helps Women’s Human Rights around the World – The Case of West African Market Women
Layli Maparyan
Women Change Worlds
This past November, I had the opportunity to visit Ghana as a member of the international research advisory committee for a study on West African market women that was sponsored by the African Women’s Development Fund, Ford | West Africa, and ...
A Global View on the Research-and-Action Connection: Ending Gender-Based Violence in Ghana
Layli Maparyan
Women Change Worlds
“16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” is an annual campaign sponsored by UN Women to raise concern about violence against women...
Why Are There So Few Women Leading Theatres and What Can Be Done About It?
WCW staff
Women Change Worlds
This blog was originally published on the HowlRound website on December 1, 2015, and is re-posted with permission. This week on HowlRound, we ...
A World AIDS Day Hero: Beatrice Achieng Nas
Layli Maparyan
Women Change Worlds
December 1st is World AIDS Day. This year, I’d like to shine the light on someone whose work I really admire, someone who is dedicating her life to serving and lifting up many children and families who have been affected by HIV/AIDS. I’m talking about Beatrice Achieng Nas, ...
Science and the Law Working Together to Improve the Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Assault
April Pattavina
Women Change Worlds
Few would argue that the value of forensic science in solving crimes has been a game changer in favor of the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenders. Indeed, forensic evidence can be credited with bringing many criminals to justice (and exonerating the innocent). In cases of sexual assault, there was hope that advances in evidence gathering would lead to more prosecutions. ...
"The Hunting Ground”—Ground zero for changing social norms on sexual assault?
Linda Williams
Women Change Worlds
This week we recognize the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Indeed, gender-based violence impacts women across the globe. Rape in conflict zones or of refugees or of child brides are all horrific and this day makes it clear that violence against women is ...
36 Years since the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights
Amy Hoffman
Women Change Worlds
The National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights took place on October 14, 1979. It was the first march of its kind, and the preparation for it was rocky. The first item on the agenda of the planning conference, held in Philadelphia, ...
Stopping the Pain of Social Exclusion
Karen Craddock
Women Change Worlds
Everyone Needs to STOP the Pain! Everyone Needs the Pain to STOP! “Hands up!” The universal symbol of surrender, sign of protest, and signal for self-selection to take action. All of these are integral in stopping the pain of social exclusion. Human beings are built to function physically, emotionally, and spiritually in supportive groups. This simple fact has recently ...
Maggie Tripp: Firebrand Feminist in a Peck & Peck Suit
Layli Maparyan
Women Change Worlds
Maggie Tripp (1921-2014) was a trailblazer with a special connection to the Wellesley Centers for Women. Known for her impeccable appearance in Peck & Peck suits (who remembers these??) when everyone else was dressed in jeans, she was an “improbable&rdquo...

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Views expressed on the Women Change Worlds blog are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the Wellesley Centers for Women or Wellesley College nor have they been authorized or endorsed by Wellesley College.

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