Weekly Girl Insights
- danielmatilda011
- Apr 17
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 27
In a world led by men... What's going on with the women?
With serious conversations regarding politics and women's rights to their own bodies, I want this week's newsletter to bring life to ours. Women are doing amazing things despite constantly being held back... And this is what you possibly have missed with the girls.
Starting strong, Millie Bobby Brown cements her title as our Gen Z Queen, as she announces the adoption of her first child with husband Jake Bon Jovi via Instagram (22/8).
The announcement was posted to her main Instagram page and reads;
With new statistics showing that Gen Z, on average, are participating in the decline of birth rates, this choice stems from economic pressures, the housing crisis, concern about climate change, and general concerns for the future. This adoption statement from Millie is more than just a celebrity tabloid; it's the beginning of the new wave of Gen Z parenthood. I should state the obvious, that adoption is extremely expensive and the average person cannot afford to go this route, but those that can... Probably will. As someone who has continuously changing and conflicting opinions regarding celebrities opting for surrogacy, my reaction to Millie's statement was pure joy and excitement.
Taylor Swift announced her 12th studio album, Life Of A Show Girl, on a football podcast. This album is set to have 12 songs, including titles of "The Fate of Ophelia", "Eldest Daughter", and "Ruin the Friendship". With fans divided on their feelings about her two-hour interview with the well-known and successful footballers, also known as the Kelce brothers, I am just thankful we have 120 minutes of her secretly providing Morse code to the Swifties and saying words that I've added to my personal dictionary. She is an intellect, she is in love, and she is absolutely going to drop a double album... you've heard it here first.
Also, despite this, including the happiness of a man in a dedicated post for women, I would be a horrible writer if I didn't include the latest news of Miss Swift's engagement to Travis Kelce. With a 13-carat cut and an estimated value of $650,000, Kelce additionally recreated the Lover set for the special question. Perhaps her 13th and final album will include wedding bells.
Because we stan all successful women, Doja Cat also announced that she is dropping her next album Vie, coming September 26th.
The Libra girls are being looked after. We are being seen. We are being fed iconic and historic things.
Following the ending of Love Island UK season 12, the winner and runner-up girls, American Toni Laites, 24, Shakira Khan, 22, and Yasmin Pettet, 24, proved to be fashion icons and the people's princesses. This trio has increased the viewership and conversation regarding this historic reality TV show, with audiences saying this latest season of Love Island has been the "most satisfying season yet."
This increase in streams is entirely due to these three women.
There has been consistent criticism and discussion regarding women of colour and how they have been depicted on Love Island UK for some time, not to mention the often regressive gender politics the show has exhibited when it comes to heterosexual dating. This was something Shakira was cognizant of before entering the villa and provided insightful quotes in an all-inclusive interview with i-D Magazine, "I went to a predominantly white high school, I was not the beauty standard... I thought based on initial attraction, it wasn't going to go well for me [in the villa], but I was pleasantly surprised."
My personal TikTok algorithm kept feeding me edits and conversations of this trio, so I decided I had to stop pretending I wasn't hooked and began watching the show for myself. These three women represent a much larger conversation about reality TV shows; they represent what it is like to be assertive, no-nonsense, emotionally intelligent women of colour. For the fans of the show to rally behind these women and secure their winning positions in the final speaks volumes, as traditionally, women of colour have faced mockery and mistreatment, experiencing racial biases and cyberbullying. Additionally, Love Island UK has encouraged discriminatory practices, with producers hinting to participants to pick the women of colour last for recouplings, and forcing the women to wear wigs due to the show's lack of support for their natural hair.
So when this trio flooded our screens, with their strong presence, forward comments, and unwilling to tolerate the misogyny from their male contestants — then won the public's support and love, my body sighed with relief.
These women continue to succeed off the show, with attaining partnerships with major brands like Laura Andraschko and an exclusive tell-all with i-D Magazine. Toni, Shakira, and Yasmin are the standout women for reality TV and an example for women everywhere.
Continuing with women moving the UK forward, a different tone of news, but equally important to me...
Police in Surrey have just launched the "Jog On" campaign, where female police officers run in plain clothing in targeted harassment locations, while uniformed officers remain nearby, ready to intercept perpetrators of catcalling and street harassment. This undercover operation targets a rise in reports in the UK, specifically where women are being followed and harassed while running and exercising. Furthermore, this campaign has already led to 18 arrests for offenses including harassment and sexual assault just in the first four weeks. The aim is to highlight the "icky" and "intimidating" nature of such behaviours and hold offenders accountable under existing laws
This campaign is run off the backs of female officers putting themselves out there to demonstrate the reality of all women when trying to pursue mundane activities, like running in broad daylight.
A positive change closer to home, the Australian government is introducing new Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items to increase rebates for specialist gynaecological care and cover longer consultations to improve access and affordability for complex conditions like endometriosis. Which is a diagnosis, we already know is one of the top misdiagnosed medical conditions in Australia, with 75.2% of women with endometriosis experiencing a misdiagnosis of another condition. This movement provides hope for equity in healthcare and research in women's health and diagnostic conditions.
Finally, as the beloved Australian soccer team, the Matildas, prepare for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 (which will be played on home soil), they inspire a new generation of young boys. These athletes are breaking down traditional gender barriers and demonstrating that sports are for everyone. For so long, we have been told that boys need fellow male representatives to look up to, whether it's on a small scale, like a School Captain or a larger one, like public figures and athletes. 2025 is the year that we are finally demonstrating that boys can look up to women as their leaders. I'm hoping these small acts filter into future practices like binary-gendered leaders in schools.
References
Allyson C Bontempo, L. M. (2025). Patient perceptions of misdiagnosis of endometriosis: results from an online national survey. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32007945/#:~:text=75.2%25%20of%20patients%20reported%20being,by%20general%20practitioners%20(34.4%25).
Millie Bobby Brown has adopted a baby girl. Here's how adoption works in the US and Australia. (2025). Retrieved from ABC:
Roeloffs, M. W. (2025). Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring May Be 13 Carats, Expert Says—And Is Worth An Estimated $650,000. Retrieved from Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/08/26/taylor-swifts-engagement-ring-may-be-13-carats-expert-says-and-is-worth-an-estimated-650000/
Winston, N. (2025). 'I'll be Kerr, you be Raso': Mum catches boys pretending to be Matildas. Retrieved from Skynews.com.au: https://www.kidspot.com.au/parenting/ill-be-kerr-you-be-raso-mum-catches-boys-pretending-to-be-matildas/news-story/72bd265b5f86158aeac30b65e37b695a
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