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"The shame and ache from losing my firstborn to adoption in 1969 nearly destroyed me." Today on the blog we're featuring a heartbreaking yet powerful story from author Cathryn Vogeley, whose new book "I Need To Tell You" recounts her experience of being a pregnant teen and being forced to give up her baby for adoption due to the shame and stigma at the time. Today, as we look around at an America that is fast taking away the choices of women and girls, Cathryn's book reminds us of what life looks like in an era where choice was not considered common. "Pregnant unwed girls were labeled tramps and their babies were called bastards. Shotgun weddings were common but raising a child as a single woman was not. I kept the pregnancy a secret and left town, spending the last trimester in a Catholic Charities home for unwed mothers... In the delivery room, I was put under with ether. When I awoke from the anesthesia, I heard only sounds of water running and chattering nurses. I listened for a baby’s cry but she had already been taken away... At home afterward, my mother insisted that I forget it ever happened. “Leave it behind,” she repeated again and again until it became a part of me. My baby was taken in a closed adoption with the records expunged of my name and sealed for ninety-nine years. For the rest of my life, I ran from that decision and the grief that was never allowed but existed in me just the same. Losing a child is the most painful experience a mother can have but I had to act as if it never happened." Read the full post via the link in our bio. 💔 . . . #adoption #pregnant #maternityhomes #Catholic #shame #teengirls #Roevwade #choice #trauma #mother #author #bookstagram #story #instagood #women #girls

We are in awe of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who announced she will not be seeking re-election, because of the leadership traits she has modeled throughout her time in office. She is a great and inspiring example that empathy and compassion are important. We are also inspired by her decision to step down on her own terms, being open and vulnerable about “not having enough left in the tank”, which is not only relatable, but reminds us that perhaps more political leaders should follow her lead instead of seeking power beyond all else at the expense of all else. May we all be empowered to know our worth, lead with empathy and compassion, and be open about when we need to take a break or switch gears. Thank you Jacinda for what you shared with the world!💪🏾🙅🏻‍♀️ #Repost @the_female_lead: "One of the criticisms I've faced over the years is that I'm not aggressive enough or assertive enough, or maybe somehow, because I'm empathetic, it means I'm weak. I totally rebel against that. I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate & strong." Jacinda Ardern . . . #jacindaardern #leadership #inspire #empathy #kindness #compassion #weak #strong #lead #womeninleadership #newzealand #rolemodel #instagood

"The protagonist in my novel faces an unwanted pregnancy, like I did as a graduate student in 2010. I chose to have an abortion, which I consider to be one of the best decisions of my life, but at the time, I kept it a secret. Now, my daughter faces a dark future in which the government could force her to give birth against her will. With so much at stake, it’s crucial for those of us with privilege to share our abortion experiences, especially with the anti-choice people who love us and within our supportive communities.” In a press release about her new novel 'Night, Forgotten' author @MeghanJoyceTozer shared her personal story and thoughts (above) about the United States Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe. v. Wade in 2022, and how she drew on her own experience with abortion when writing her main character’s story arc. You may recognize Meghan's previous work, as she is the author and filmmaker of ‘The UnSlut Project’ (written under the pen name Emily Lindin). Her debut adult novel, ‘Night, Forgotten’, is ‘The Lovely Bones’ meets ‘The Push’: a deeply intense psychological thriller about a young woman who must cope with the aftermath of a sexual assault. When Julie’s idyllic, happy life is upended by a sexual assault that results in a pregnancy, she can’t cope with anything–not the baby, not her mother-in-law’s constant presence in her home, not even her husband’s concern. Her marriage is forever changed. Her life is unrecognizable. Her only option is to put the broken pieces of that awful night together and finally come to terms with what happened to her . . . and why. Read an excerpt from Chapter 1 of 'Night, Forgotten' via the link in our bio. This is a thriller you will not want to put down! 🌃🏡 . . . #nightForgotten #sexualassault #pregnancy #choice #abortion #RovWade #reprorights #novel #story #thriller #psychological #protagonist #instagood #bookstagram

CURRENT MOOD … We’re in our feels today so we turned to goddess @thesherylleeralph for some motivation to get us through the rest of the week. How do YOU feel about yourself today? Do you love who you see in the mirror?🪞 #repost @thesherylleeralph This song adds a little something something don’t you think? You betta LOVE what you see! SOUND ON! @criticschoice @nas #sherylleeralph #loveyourself #motivation #reflection #peoplepleaser #selflove #inspire #feels #mood

New research by @PureGymofficial has revealed a shocking lack of knowledge when it comes to the menstrual cycle, with one in three women (35%) admitting that they have no understanding of their cycle, the four phases within it, and how it can impact their daily life. In collaboration with NHS GP @doctorshireen, who helped to guide the research and provide her medical insight on the findings, more than 2,000 women were involved in the study which uncovered a distinct lack of education on the subject. And where education may be lacking, social media is having a positive impact when it comes to women’s health, with self-care and wellbeing regularly discussed online. On TikTok alone, videos focusing on cycle syncing have more than 130 million views. With 65% of 16-24 year old females syncing their workouts with their cycles compared to just 41% of women aged 25 and over, it’s clear that more visibility on the topic is helping women to learn more about their cycles. Even with more 16-24-year-olds in the know about their cycles (28% have no understanding versus the national average of 35%) hinting that education, supplemented by social media, is improving, Dr. Shireen feels there is still a long way to go until all women have the knowledge to manage their cycles, and adverse symptoms effectively. “The stigmas around menstruation are breaking, and it’s great to see that the younger generation potentially feel more comfortable talking about their periods and tracking them. However, it shouldn’t just be up to social media to take care of this education. Women’s health is still poorly taught in our schools and there is a huge gap in general knowledge around hormones, the menstrual cycle and how they impact our wider lives." To learn more information about your menstrual cycle, head to the link in our bio! ✌🏾🩸 . . . #menstrual #cycle #womenshealth #periods #stigma #misinformation #health #education #socialmedia #reproductivehealth #monday #instagood

"We have a lot of potential investors – most of whom are male – who tell us that women’s health, even though it affects half the population, is still a niche market. At the same time, though, we feel like there are more and more voices that amplify the need to invest in women’s health and show both the financial and social benefits of investing in it.” That’s a quote from our interview with Venture Capital investor Linda Greub, whose firm Avestria Ventures is exclusively focusing on funding innovation in women's health and life sciences. "One layer of that change comes from the investors and strategic partners in women’s health. Data from McKinsey shows an increase in the amount of funding going to FemTech companies. But there are other levels too: The overturning of Roe v. Wade obviously brought women’s reproductive health and rights back into the center of the political conversations. Even before then, though, in 2021, the White House announced the first-ever federal Maternal Health Day of Action to bring awareness to the fact that the U.S has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the developed world and to announce the single-largest investment to combat that trend. "Meanwhile, The New York Times has published stories about breastfeeding, the clitoris, endometriosis, and menopause – all women’s health issues. "In short, we’re seeing dialogue not only from investors but also from the government level all the way to pop culture to help circulate these ideas, show the need for change, and dispel the myth that women’s health is a niche." Read the full interview via the link in our bio! 💊🩺 . . . #womenshealth #venturecapital #funding #investment #healthcare #life #science #politics #popculture #roevwade #maternalhealth #friday #instagood

Gaslighting is insidiously pervasive in today’s culture. We are inundated by an onslaught of news and information that we’re aware might not be accurate. In such a climate, we are presented with more occasions to question what we know and consequently are more vulnerable to gaslighting than ever. Psychologist Dr. Robin Stern coined the phrase “gaslight effect” in 2007, to explain the long-term effects of repeated gaslighting: in which a gaslighter undermines and controls another person by deflecting, twisting, and denying their reality. Dr. Stern has a new book out in February--The Gaslight Effect Recovery Guide which is full of quizzes and guided reflective questions to help readers identify if they are part of a pattern of emotional abuse in any type of relationship and to pull themselves out of that dynamic. We were lucky enough to publish an insightful guest post on the blog today, where she shared 5 shifts you can make today if you are the victim of gaslighting. Here is one of our faves: 🗣️Focus on feelings instead of “right” and “wrong.” A gaslighter frequently makes accusations that ring true. Your gaslighter zeros in on these vulnerable moments or missteps, and you wince in recognition. To free yourself from this trap, stop worrying about which one of you is right and focus on your feelings. 🔥If you’re feeling genuine remorse, apologize and do your best to make up. 🔥 If you are feeling angry because you are being unfairly criticized, slow down your reaction, take a deep breath and opt out of the argument by using short, simple statements that don’t invite response. 🔥If you are feeling bewildered, attacked, devastated, or terrorized, no matter what you did—even if you also feel regret—you are being gaslighted and should disengage immediately. To read more of Dr. Stern's advice, head to the link in our bio, and share this information with anyone who might find it useful! ⚡️ . . . #gaslight #psychology #abuse #relationship #family #instagood #selfhelp #advice #mindfulness #thegaslighteffect #drRobinStern #healing #author #bookstagram

"There is a long history of stigmatizing afro-textured hair when it is worn naturally. The media has long stigmatized Black hair for many decades. Over the last several years, however, there has been a push for wider representation of the diversity of natural hair." From new UK government regulations banning the discrimination of Afro hair in schools, to the approval of the Afro hair Olympic swimming cap after a 2021 ban, it seems there have been some major steps forward for the Afro-textured and natural hair movements. But there is still a long way to go, with media and entertainment playing a huge role in what is reflected in our culture. Head to the link in our bio to hear what @nylah.uk_ founder Kam Davis, a mother, entrepreneur and champion of the natural hair movement had to say about this. 💇🏾‍♀️ . . . #naturalhair #afrohair #beauty #nylahsnaturals #blackwomen #movement #instagood