Latest news with #femaleempowerment
Washington Post
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Marina is here to generate joy, during WorldPride and always
A few weeks ago, Marina Diamandis took to social media to make an all-caps plea to bring back things like whimsy, smiling in photos and dillydallying. 'MAKE THIS THE SUMMER OF CRINGE,' she wrote. 'MAKE THIS THE SUMMER OF GIVING A S---.' That mission statement reverberates throughout the forthcoming album 'Princess of Power' from the singer-songwriter, who performs mononymously as Marina. Across a trio of synth-powered pop anthems, Diamandis celebrates personal transformation, new love and female empowerment with her trademark wit and glam.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Dare 2B Challenged inspires local women and girls
An energetic group of over 320 women and girls took part in the annual Dare 2B Challenged run/walk Sunday morning at Holiday Beach. The event is a celebration of strength, resilience, and female empowerment through sport. Participants with a wide range of athletic backgrounds laced up their shoes to raise funds for LAWS (Ladies Active in Wellness and Sport), an organization committed to fostering a supportive culture for females pursuing a healthy and active lifestyle. Event Director Barb Pollard, who started the initiative, shared her personal motivation for launching the run. 'I grew up without an opportunity to be involved in sport,' Pollard said. 'I want to create an opportunity for young girls and young women to come out and participate in events like this. They challenge themselves a little bit, and then we all feel good and we can all celebrate at the end of the race.' The event has become a meaningful tradition for many families, including Tara Cohoe and her daughter Teah Durocher, who participated for the fourth consecutive year. This year, they dedicated their run to Kelly Steele, a passionate runner currently facing health challenges. 'This race is really important for us for our mental health,' said Cohoe. 'Today we ran for Kelly Steele because she's our inspirational runner, and we're carrying the torch until she can carry it back.' For Durocher, the event's significance goes far beyond physical activity. 'Bringing people up. Bringing your self-esteem up. It really helps me to push myself to do better,' she said.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
This is how we do it: ‘I was twice her age, married and her boss. I questioned whether I was a bad person'
We don't call ourselves a couple. We value our own and each other's freedom Ava and I grew close when I was her boss, and still with my ex-wife. I'm twice her age, and worried how that would appear. What if people confused us for father and daughter? I questioned whether I was a bad person. My daughter, who is four years younger than Ava, was disgusted at first, calling me a pervert, and my ex-wife was also understandably furious. They felt as though they had never truly known me. I feared I may have severed those relationships for ever, but I knew that, with Ava, I had the chance to be incredibly happy. It was months before we had sex. The first time we were intimate, we kept our clothes on. It was an intense experience. I remember her scent and how soft her skin was. I hadn't been able to get an erection for a few years, which led to the death of my sex life with my wife, and I assumed that was it for me. With Ava, I've rediscovered pleasure. Not only sexually, but also the pleasure of being together. We both believe in female empowerment … and Ava likes to be spanked, which excites me In sex, we have dominant-submissive roles. We both believe in female empowerment and equality, and we talk about that conflict, but the two can coexist. Ava likes to be spanked, which excites me. I also find her freedom a turn-on, so sometimes we roleplay scenarios where she's been unfaithful and I'm punishing her. I like the idea of her being with other people, but it makes me jealous. We don't call ourselves a couple. We value our own and each other's freedom, and don't want a conventional future where we fall victim to the mundanity of daily routine. Although we work together, we have decided we will never live together. I've found that cohabiting causes the desire to know everything about someone to fall away, and I always want to feel a deep interest in Ava. To me, intimacy is the time we afford each other. I feel most connected to Ava at the end of the day when I massage her feet and we talk about things that interest us. Sometimes I wake up during the night and we're holding hands, so I start the day feeling loved, like I've been replenished overnight. We want to explore other ways to have sex and not stay as the lovers that we are now There's tension between what I enjoy sexually and my feminist values. I've always taken on the submissive role, but recently I've been questioning how much of this is my desire and how much has been prescribed by the patriarchy. I ask myself: do I actually like this, or have I been taught to like it? Often, I can't tell the difference. Why do I want to be submissive? For example, Benji used to grab my hair during sex, but after questioning it, I've asked him to stop. I listen to feminist podcasts and read feminist literature, and we communicate a lot about it. We want to challenge, test, learn and develop our relationship in a way that feels progressive. We want to explore other ways to have sex and not stay as the lovers that we are now. We have sex in the office, and use our workspace as part of the fantasy At the start, I wasn't attracted to Benji – there were no romantic or sexual feelings, but I felt this strong pull towards him that I couldn't understand. I cared about him and his opinion. He was an important person in my professional and personal life. We had lots of things in common. Then, when he told me his feelings, that the smell of my perfume made him crazy, it opened up another dimension. Our relationship developed. The first time Benji stayed at my place, we didn't sleep at all. We stayed up all night caressing each other through our clothes and looking up at the full moon. It was special. And it was still exciting teasing and building the sexual tension between us with no penetration or orgasm. Benji and I now run a business together, where we're the only employees, and sometimes we roleplay that he's the boss and I'm his secretary. We find that dynamic exciting. We have sex in the office, and use our workspace as part of the fantasy. Since we've been together, I feel free to be more myself, to wear the clothes I want, to say what I want. He speaks to my values of freedom and happiness.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
The ultimate way to deal with a toxic friendship
COMMENT As a high-performance coach and organisational psychologist, I've seen all kinds of workplace dynamics. But one of the most unsettling is successful women tearing down other women. It's corrosive, often subtle, and incredibly damaging. Ask women who've been on the receiving end of female bullying how it felt, and the response is often the same – 'sucker punched', 'blindsided' and 'sideswiped'. They never saw it coming. Toxic friendships, particularly between women, are more common than we realise. And here's the kicker – when female friendships go south, they often come with emotional complexities that make them harder to escape. That's because we're wired for connection. We expect kindness and camaraderie from other women. So, when betrayal creeps in, it feels worse than when it comes from, say, an acquaintance or even a romantic partner. The emotional toll runs deep because we don't expect it from another woman – we're sisters after all. So why is it that sisterhood can sour so quickly? Anthropologists and psychologists have long studied female relational aggression, and some research suggests that competition among women can be traced back to evolutionary instincts, territorial disputes, social hierarchy struggles, and even subtle forms of sabotage. Regardless of whether the toxicity stems from deep evolutionary instincts or just personal baggage, staying in a harmful friendship isn't recommended – it's harmful. If you've reached the point where the relationship is taking more than it's giving, it's time to step back. Here's how: • Acknowledge the reality – If a friendship consistently leaves you feeling stressed or drained, that's a sign it's no longer serving you. If it's a workplace situation don't explain what's happening away. Face what's going on. Identify the type of toxicity it is – are they being disrespectful or something more sinister like frequent and repetitive bullying? • Choose your approach – Some friendships require a direct break-up conversation. Others benefit from gradual distancing. If it's a workplace relationship gone wrong, approach it strategically – consult with a mentor, or if necessary, HR if safe to do so. • Set clear boundaries – If you decide to talk it out, be firm and honest: 'I don't feel our friendship is healthy for me anymore, and I need to step away.' At work it might not be so cut and dry, especially if it's a peer or your boss. I would advise getting support to come up with a strategy that maintains your sanity and doesn't end your career. Often when a woman outs another woman it is a career limiting move to call it out. Figure out how much support you will receive from your workplace and whether it is worth the risk. Maintain professionalism at all times. • Bury your guilt – Prioritising your peace isn't selfish. If leaving a toxic friendship means walking away from a job, a social circle, or an environment that no longer serves you, so be it. At work, it's the same deal but it needs to be managed differently. If you have to leave the organisation because you can't see a constructive way to remove yourself from the toxic colleague's firing line, get out before you lose your confidence and strength to pursue better professional opportunities. Ending a toxic friendship isn't an act of cruelty, it's an act of self-preservation. And when you finally step away, you create space for friendships that feel lighter, genuine, and mutually uplifting. So, here's your reminder. You get to decide the terms of your relationships. You hold the power. You write the script.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Michelle Keegan puts on a glamorous display in a structured white gown and dramatic hat as she leads the stars in Cannes ahead of L'Oreal Light on Women Award
Michelle Keegan put on a glamorous display in a structured white gown and a dramatic hat ahead of the L'Oreal Light on Women Award. The former Coronation Street star, 37, was seen at Hotel Martinez on Friday during day eleven of the Cannes Film Festival before the L'Oreal event. The L'Oreal Light on Women Award 'champions emerging female voices in film' and will this year be hosted by American actress Viola Davis, 59, who follows in the footsteps of Elle Fanning and Kate Winslet. Michelle turned heads as she stepped out in a stunning white corseted strapless gown, which featured a peplum design and figure-hugging skirt. She paired the gown with a striking matching hat and open-toed satin heels, accessorising with a statement diamond necklace. Also spotted in the south of France ahead of the event was Sex Education star Gillian Anderson, who made a statement in a green gown. Gillian looked effortlessly stylish as she was spotted leaving Hotel Martinez in the spring green sleeveless gown. Her dress featured a full skirt and a small cinching belted design and she swept her blonde locks into a messy bun. The L'Oreal award will be handed out to one standout female director from the Cannes Short Film Competition after Viv Li scooped the prize for her work on Across the Waters in 2024. The event comes on the penultimate night of the festival after a host of A-listers flocked to Cannes over the previous couple of weeks. Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories. The awards were being held as part of Cannes Film Festival, which will come to an end on Saturday with a closing ceremony. Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme d´Or, to give out at the end. 'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho, who´s returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazil ´s dictatorship. 'You've got to really prepare for the whole experience because it´s quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.' This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trump´s vow to enact tariffs on international films. Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies 'produced in Foreign Lands' will face 100 percent tariffs. The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilise even the oldest cultural institutions. The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government controlled Venice Film Festival. In the time since, Cannes´ resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name. This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) have all unveiled their feature directorial debuts in Cannes´ Un Certain Regard sidebar section. Many Cannes veterans have returned, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - who received an honorary Palme d´Or 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, who paid tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman. Over recent years the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette. But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' have been implemented at this year's festival. According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet. 'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document. 'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.' The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour. Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumière for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed two-week schedule in Cannes. It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline grabbing ensembles. Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted. While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement. Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Télévisions Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements. In 2021, American supermodel Bella Hadid bared her cleavage in a plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors). She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress.
