The Female Lead

The news can feel much the same as the weather in May: unpredictable, and not always matching the mood you’d hope for at this time of year. But in amongst it all, there are always stories worth noticing. Women - like always - have been pushing forward in science, sport, politics, health, and culture in ways that don’t always make the loudest headlines. Think of this as your monthly reminder: the good stories are out there. You just have to know where to look. Read more on our Substack and subscribe to have next month's good news delivered straight to your inbox. https://lnkd.in/ezTtn8Rb 

The Nobel Prize is supposed to honour those behind great discoveries. So why was Chinese-American Chien-Shiung Wu excluded when her male colleagues were awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in physics? 👀

"Across continents and civilisations, women-led communities have reshaped culture, reimagined economies, driven political change and fostered peace. The more I explored, the more I became convinced that there was an urgent and layered story to be told about women-led spaces and societies. A story not just for women, but for anyone willing to learn from them." Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/et6DPWbJ

For Mental Health Awareness Month, we asked our community if they feel they have poor mental health. 71% of responders said 'yes'. Poor mental health isn't a quick fix, and there's no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution. What advice would you give a friend who was struggling with their mental health today?

CMAT said what needed to be said. No notes. 👏 The singer has spoken out about "deep sadness", hurt and exhaustion caused by body-shaming abuse she faced recently. Because no matter how talented, successful, funny, intelligent, or groundbreaking a woman is, the conversation too often circles back to how she looks.

“Misogyny isn’t always loud or visible to many of us, but these findings show how constant, corrosive and deeply embedded it is in the lives of young people today both on and offline.” - Lynn Perry MBE, chief executive of Barnardo's. Barnardo’s asked 4,000 young people from across the UK about their experiences of online misogyny. The results show how it has become an “everyday part of childhood.” What do you think schools, parents and social platforms should be doing differently to tackle the misogyny that young people are facing?

“I know that girls are not born with self-doubt” - Malala Yousafzai at Hay Festival 2026 What would you tell your 12-year-old self? ✨

When the sun comes out, we often expect a lifted mood, more energy and a general new lease of life. While that's true for many of us, warmer weather can also affect our bodies in ways we don't always talk about. Swipe through to discover six ways warmer weather can affect women 👉

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Just five of the 100 highest-grossing films of the past three years in the UK have starred a woman older than 60, The Age Without Limits campaign has found. Representation matters. Women don't stop being interesting, funny, powerful or worthy of leading stories when they turn 60. Yet the film industry continues to overlook older women. What films led by women over 60 would you recommend? 📽️