41. Women as Heroes of Their Own Story

Addressing gender injustice starts by investing into women leaders and women-led organizations in the human rights space. Despite the growing recognition that women’s rights are human rights, in 2021 less than one percent of Development Assistance Committee aid for gender equality went to women’s organizations. In this episode we hear from two female leaders who are making it a priority to support women, especially those fighting for gender equality in the global south. We explore the disadvantages female leaders face in the human rights space, and examine the current state of gender rights around the world. Featuring Sofia Sprechmann Sineiro, Secretary General at CARE International and Latanya Mapp Frett, President and CEO at the Global Fund for Women in conversation with Hazami Barmada, Activist & Founder of the Humanity Lab Foundation. -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate, and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

According to the United Nations, as of  2021, there were only 26 women serving as Heads of State or Government. Globally, only 21% of government ministers were women, with only 14 countries having achieved 50% or more women in cabinets.  If we don’t have more women and women of color in leadership, our policies won’t address their needs. Yet, at the current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be reached for another 130 years. In this episode we learn how Antonia Novello made history as the first female and first Hispanic U.S. Surgeon General. We examine the barriers that are keeping women from reaching leadership roles in government, and explore how we can overcome them. Featuring Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Antonia Novello and Nicole C. Mason, President and CEO of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research  in conversation with Hazami Barmada, Activist & Founder of the Humanity Lab Foundation. -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate, and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

The world is increasingly determined by the way we design our technology. Yet, in the U.S.  Black and Indigenous women occupy less than 10 percent of positions in the fields of STEM –science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In this episode we hear from two women who founded organizations that teach girls the skills they need to pursue careers in STEM. We also go back to the history of this field, and examine why closing the gender gap in technology will lead to a more inclusive future. Featuring Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin Founder of  Pearls Africa Foundation and Reshma Saujani Founder & CEO of Marshall Plan for Moms and Founder of  Girls Who Code in conversation with Hazami Barmada, Activist & Founder of the Humanity Lab Foundation. -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate, and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

Study after study shows that looking at idealized images of women in the media results in lower self-esteem, particularly for young women and girls. Hoping to challenge what is perceived as beautiful, designer Carrie Hammer founded Role Models, Not Runway Models, a movement credited for kickstarting the body positive movement in the fashion and beauty industries. In this episode we hear how Carrie made history by creating the first New York Fashion Week show that included a model in a wheelchair. We talk about the negative influences of social media and idealized body images in young women, and explore solutions to this issue. Featuring Carrie Hammer, Fashion Designer and Founder of Role Models, Not Runway Models and Dr. Jennifer S. Mills, Psychologist and Associate Professor at York University in conversation with Hazami Barmada, Activist & Founder of the Humanity Lab Foundation. -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate, and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

Male athletes in most sports make significantly more than female athletes. One of the reasons for this pay gap is that men’s sports receive vastly more media coverage, television licenses, and sponsorship deals. However, even in cases where women’s sports are as popular, we have been slow to achieve equal pay. In this episode, we hear from former basketball player Tajay Ashmeade about the ways in which her gender impacted her career. We examine the reasons behind the gender pay gap, highlight the progress achieved so far, and outline a way forward. Featuring Tajay Ashmeade, CEO of Nurture SPRT and Dr. Richard Lapchick, Director, Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida in conversation with Hazami Barmada, Activist & Founder of the Humanity Lab Foundation. -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate, and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

To protect democracy, we must first protect journalists. Yet, women journalists experience approximately three times as many abusive comments on Twitter, compared to their male counterparts. In this episode, we examine the disadvantages female journalists around the world face. We also explain why we must recognize online harassment against women journalists as a threat to the freedom of the press. Featuring Carla Minet, Executive Director at the Center for Investigative Journalism in Puerto Rico and Elisa Lees Muñoz, Executive Director of the International Women's Media Foundation in conversation with Hazami Barmada, Activist & Founder of the Humanity Lab Foundation. -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate, and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

Investing in women and women-led companies is not only the right thing to do, it’s also good for business. Yet, women and women of color in particular continue to face disadvantages in the workplace. In 2021, only 2% of venture capital went to companies founded only by women and 15.6% to those with at least one woman on their founding teams. Women are also 30% less likely to be considered for a job position than men. In this episode, we examine the ways in which women and women-led companies face disadvantages in the workplace,and we hear the stories of two powerful women working to change the landscape for women in business. Featuring: Tiffany Pham, CEO and Founder of Mogul (one of the world's leading diversity recruitment companies) and Sarah Chen, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Beyond The Billion (launched as The Billion Dollar Fund for Women, which is a global consortium of investors that have pledged to invest over 1 billion towards women-founded companies), in conversation with Hazami Barmada, Activist & Founder of the Humanity Lab Foundation. -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate, and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

In the U.S., women of color hold only 4% of C-suite roles in media and entertainment. As a result, we rarely find their stories featured in films or T.V. Growing up as a Muslim who wore a headscarf, Marya didn’t see herself represented on the screen. Yet, she found her way into Hollywood through a handful of pioneer women of color in the industry. As a vice-president at Walt Disney Studios, Marya is now advancing social change through diverse storytelling. In this episode, we examine how stories shape and inform the world in which we live. We also explore how having women in leadership positions in media and entertainment is crucial in advancing diversity. Featuring: Marya Bangee, Vice President, Representation & Inclusion Strategies at The Walt Disney Studios Dr. Shawn Andrews, Speaker, Consultant, Author, Professor -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate, and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

From a young age, Selin Ozunaldim questioned gender stereotypes. When she was 17, her little brother told her that she didn’t need to worry about studying because she could always get married. Hearing her brother say that made Selin realize she had to do something to change this way of thinking in her community. Now 19, Selin is the youngest representative of the United Nations’ HeForShe movement in Turkey, a global effort to engage men and boys in the fight for gender equality. She also founded the first Girl Up Club and Girls Who Code in her country. In this episode, we explore the important role that young women and girls have historically played in fighting for change, equality, and justice for all. We examine how teen advocates have come to the forefront on the global stage, the challenges they overcame to get there, and how technology has amplified their advocacy. Featuring: Selin Ozunaldim, National Gender Youth Activist for UN Women, HeForShe Advocate Melissa Kilby, Executive Director, Girl Up at the United Nations Foundation -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Subscribe, rate, and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.

Throughout history and across cultures, inspiring women and girls continue to break records and blaze trails—shattering glass ceilings while imagining and innovating the way forward. On season 5 of the Finding Humanity podcast, we bring you powerful voices of women shaping history by overcoming innumerable challenges to achieve greatness. You’ll hear the inspirational stories of leaders in arts, entertainment, science, sports, politics, and beyond. -- Finding Humanity is a production of Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media. Hosted by Hazami Barmada. Subscribe, rate, and leave us a review. For more information, visit findinghumanitypodcast.com. Follow us on Twitter @find_humanity and Facebook.