Welcome to Conspire’s Super Happy Fun Friday Link Time, a weekly collection of cool discoveries from around the Web. Most times the goal is to get you thinking differently about communication, collaboration, culture, and life in general. Other times, LOLCAT ATTACK! Submissions are welcome, and you can send them to conspire@mindjet.com for consideration.
TED Talk: Women Should Represent Women in Media
In this powerful discussion from reporter Megan Kamerick, she presents irrefutable evidence that women are sorely underrepresented in media positions like reporters and sources, and how that makes for an incomplete historical record. Says Kamerick, “The fact is, women are only 19 percent of the sources in stories on politics, and only 20 percent in stories on the economy. The news continues to give us a picture where men outnumber women in nearly all occupational categories except two: students and homemakers.” She goes on to make several suggestions about how we can change the overall representation of women in media, starting with looking at ourselves.
Watch it here.
The Secretary-General’s Message to Women Around the Globe
It’s always inspiring to hear political figures support oppressed groups, and this year’s Women’s Day message from the UN Secretary-General is powerful enough to give most people a serious case of The Feels — not to mention confidence, hope, and encouragement for the future of women’s rights. From the United Nations:
“This International Women’s Day, we are highlighting the importance of achieving equality for women and girls not simply because it is a matter of fairness and fundamental human rights, but because progress in so many other areas depends on it.
Countries with more gender equality have better economic growth. Companies with more women leaders perform better. Peace agreements that include women are more durable. Parliaments with more women enact more legislation on key social issues such as health, education, anti-discrimination and child support.
The evidence is clear: equality for women means progress for all.”
Read the full message here.
3 Major Gains Women Entrepreneurs Have Made [Infographic]
Progress is the longest game the world will ever play, but better to be slow and steady than nonexistent, right? Inc Magazine reports that, in the last couple of decades, the number of businesses owned by women has increased by 59 percent, and revenue generated by these companies has risen by 63 percent. The below infographic shows some more important stats in this arena, and while we have quite a ways to go, it’s promising to see such a huge leap in such a relatively short period of time.
The post Fun Friday Links: In Celebration of International Women’s Day 2014 appeared first on via @Mindjet's Conspire #ideasquad.