Shonda Rhimes On Combining Motherhood With Career And Being An Angry Black Woman

Shonda Rhimes is the creator of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Scandal’ and is also executive producing new TV show, ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ featuring Viola Davis. She's also the single mom of three children, a twelve year old and two younger children.

The usually affable, if a no-nonsense go getting TV executive had her feathers ruffled a few weeks ago when a New York Times writer described her as is an ‘angry black woman’ [read here]. Shonda called out the writer on social media and sparked a conversation on sexism and race.

#MalalaYousafzai Is The Youngest Ever Winner Of The #NobelPeacePrize

The Nobel Committee has just awarded the 2014 peace prize to Malala Yousafzai, 17, who becomes the youngest ever winner of the award since it was created.

Malala Yousafzai is an advocate for girls’ education and for that, she was targeted by the Taliban in her native Pakistan when she was 14. The taliban shot her in the head in an assassination attempt but Malala survived.

Iggy Azalea Signed Away Rights To Sex Tape Says Ex-Boyfriend

Ladies be careful when signing anything to do with your body, talent, etc, and please be extra careful when the person making you sign any document or contract is your romantic partner. Go through the document - no matter how long - with a fine tooth comb, and read the fine print carefully. If possible, have a lawyer there!

Iggy Azalea's former boyfriend and manager, Hefe Wine, has been looking for a paying outlet for their sex tape, read here, and is now claiming he would be within his rights to sell that tape. This he says is because she had signed her rights away to him, giving him legal authority to market the tape.

Not the sex tape specifically, but he said Iggy signed a lengthy agreement with him in 2009 which gives him exclusive rights to 'manufacture, sell, distribute and advertise 'any' recording embodying visual images of her.

This was back in 2009, when she was just 18 years old and desperate for her talent to get discovered. Probably thought her wonderful boyfriend had the best intentions for her. Poor girl!

Jennifer Aniston Says Birthing A Child Does Not Define Her Value As A Woman

Many questions have followed Jennifer Aniston throughout her career, especially during her marriage to Brad Pitt, one of the most desirable men in Hollywood, their eventual divorce, and Brad going to have several biological and adopted children with Angelina Jolie.

Now that Jennifer Aniston is engaged again to fiance Justin Theroux, some of these questions have started up again including; "When is she getting married? Will she have children? Is she pregnant now?"

In an interview with TODAY's Carson Daly, Jennifer Aniston shared her take on the expectations that come with the questions.

“I don’t have this sort of checklist of things that have to be done, and…if they’re not checked, then I’ve failed some part of my feminism or my being a woman or my worth and my value as a woman because I haven’t birthed a child. I’ve birthed a lot of things, and I feel like I’ve mothered many things. And I don’t feel like it’s fair to put that pressure on people.”

Below is the video of their conversation and more of what she spoke about in the interiew;

Definitely Not Why God Made Girls - A Response To RaeLynn's Single

A new single from 2012 Voice contestant RaeLynn aims to provide the answer to why God Made Girls, but the lyrics prove to be the opposite of what she calls "girl empowerment". RaeLynn told Taste of Country: "There's just something so special about 'God Made Girls,' it comes from a girl's perspective and there's nothing like that on radio right now."

She sings; "He needed something soft and loud and sweet and proud/But tough enough to break a heart/Something beautiful and breakable that lights up in the dark/So God made girls."

I know some people may think she makes a good point, but come on, surely a woman's purpose in life has to b more than to pretty and hold a man's hand. What of those God made to be not so pretty, or to serve him and be single all their life?

See the video and more of the reasons RaeLynn thinks God Made Girls below, and tell me what you think....

Wunmi Obe Attacks Robin Williams’ Widow In Scathing and Heartless Open Letter

Wunmi Obe has used the further news that have come to light since his death by apparent suicide to pluck what she says are gaping holes in the statement released by the widow of late American comedian Robin Williams.

Susan Schneider wrote of her grief, and heartbreak at the loss of her husband and best friend, and asked for privacy. Read full statement HERE.

But Wunmi Obe, married to husband Tunde Obe for 16 years - and I'm sure she has seen her fair share of the ups and downs of marriage, including bad health, bad finances, infidelity, etc - is not granting Susan Schneider that privacy. Wunmi is not even extending a hand of sympathy or understanding as someone who has experienced celebrity death in the family.

A seemingly very pissed off Wunmi Obe took to Facebook to comment:

Women Are Not Apples - Why I Don't Agree With Jim Iyke on Finding The One

Nollywood actor Jim Iyke shared the above picture on Instagram along with the write up below...

"Women are like apples on trees, the best ones are on the top of the tree. The men don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and don't want to get hurt. Instead they get the cold manipulating easier climbs. So, the apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality they are amazing. They just have to wait for the right man to come along, the one who's brave enough to climb all the way to the top because they value quality away from d spotlight. #bae #angeleyes

A lot of women see the analogy, place themselves where they will and either agree or disagree with him. Those who think they are at the top of the tree and are being praised by Jim Iyke and called wife material, are very happy. Those who may have had one or two boyfriends, feel chastised and unhappy.

10 Popular Songs That Are Actually Female Empowerment Anthems

Today's music industry is filled with plenty of powerful woman, so it's no surprise their music is just as empowered. Some of them identify as feminists, others do not, but the common thread is their music inspires us.

1. "Run the World (Girls)" by Beyoncé

One, because it's Queen Bey, living proof that a woman can run the world. Two, because she says, "Strong enough to bear the children, then get back to business." Owned.

2. "I Love It" by Icona POP featuring Charli XCX

 The core of feminism, after all, is owning the right to like what you like and do what you want to do — and not needing to apologize for it. And so we say, "I don't care, I love it."

3. "So What" by Pink 

Pink is badass no matter what she does, but in this song she's all about her independence. "I'm gonna show you tonight. I'm alright. I'm just fine. And you're a tool. So, so what." Burn.

Yes We can! Beyonce is Flawless As Rosie The Riveter - Feminist Labor Icon

I just love the feminist in Beyonce. Earlier today Beyonce posted the ultimate feminist photo, and she is the model!

The wife, mother, and "Flawless" singer posted a photo of herself dressed as Rosie the Riveter and looking every bit as competent.

Beyoncé seems to be answering the current RML poll, "Can Women Have It All?" I think we know what her answer is :)

Country Singer Tim McGraw Slaps Woman Who Groped His Groin During Concert

Country singer Tim McGraw may receive some flack for slapping a woman across the face during his concert recently, but I think she may have crossed the line!

Musicians may perform to entertain you, but they are not strippers or club dancers to grope in their private places!

The incident happened after Tim McGraw walked into the crowd during his show in Atlanta singing his hit “Truck Yeah”. The woman touched him twice, once on his knee, not too bad...and then right in his croctch.

It was after she copped her feel, Tim slapped her.

The Church of England Approves Women as Bishops at the General Synod

The Church of England's national assembly, known as the General Synod, has approved the historic measure to allow women to enter its top ranks as bishops!

The Church voted this decision at its meeting in York today, according to UK media.

The measure had the support of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Prime Minister David Cameron.

The vote comes two years after similar legislation failed to reach a two-thirds majority among the General Synod's lay members, despite approval from bishops and clergy.

Pepsi CEO, Indra Nooyi, Says Successful Career Women Can't Have it All. Do You Agree?

Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi, an Indian-born American, is a business executive and the current Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo, and she's also a mother to two daughters, a wife of 34 years, and a daughter to her mom who lives in her home.

In a new interview with the owner of The Atlantic David Bradley, at the Aspen Ideas Festival this week, Indra Nooyi was asked how she plays the roles of mother and CEO and still have a perfect work-life balance, and she acknowledged that it is a real struggle.

Below is the transcript of that portion of the interview:

When Did You Learn that #LikeAGirl Was A Bad Thing?

Using #LikeAGirl as an insult is one of those little underhanded ways society keeps putting girls and women down and somehow, we never really think much about it.

However, it is indeed a hard knock against any adolescent girl. And since the rest of puberty's really no picnic either, it's easy to see what a huge impact it can have on a girl's self-confidence.

Sometimes I get scared about being potentially a mom to a little girl that I have to nurture to adulthood with her self-esteem intact when she will keep meeting all these bumps in the road. Remember Ban Bossy?

Watch the video and let's discuss. Do you do stuff like YOURSELF or you do it #LikeAGirl - the way society tells you?

#HobbyLobby Wins Supreme Court Case Not to Insure Women's Contraception Against Their Faith

The US Supreme Court has ruled today, 5-4, that the government can't require certain "family owned and small business" employers to provide insurance coverage for methods of birth control and emergency contraception that conflict with their religious beliefs.

In a deeply divisive case pitting advocates of religious liberty against women’s right’s groups, the Supreme Court said today that two for profit corporations with sincerely held religious beliefs do not have to provide a full range of contraceptives at no cost to their employees pursuant to the Affordable Care Act.

In the case Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, the majority opinion was written by Justice Samuel Alito who insists that for purposes of the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, closely held corporations should be regarded as “persons” and have their religious freedoms upheld.

Matt Lauer Asks Mary Barra If She Can Run General Motors and Be a Good Mom Too

In an interview for the TODAY Show, Matt Lauer asked the CEO of General Motors, Mary Barra, if it was possible for her to run a major company and be a good mom at the same time. 

I'm kind of disappointed in Matt Lauer. Like, really? Did he have no better questions to ask the CEO of General Motors than whether she thinks she's a good mom? There are recalls and failures in leadership at GM and we're emphasizing on the CEO's parenting skills?

Maybe we should ask Matt Lauer, are you able to do your job as anchor of the TODAY show at NBC and be a good dad? Parenting should be the last thing a serious news anchor like Matt Lauer should ask someone when they have come on air for an interview about their professional life!

Below are some excerpts from the transcript of that part of the interview:

South African CEO Receives Wife As Gift From Traditional Rulers - Faces Probe

South African Broadcasting Corporation CEO Hlaudi Motsoeneng was given a wife, a cow, and a calf as gifts by Traditional Venda chiefs during his visit to their area.

About 10 bare-breasted women were lined up in Tho hoyandou, Limpopo, last Wednesday, and Motsoeneng was asked to choose one. He picked 22-year-old Vanessa Mutswari, a human resources management student shown smiling and standing bare-breasted in above picture, next to her new husband and the cow and calf.

Motsoeneng told the Sowetan he received the gifts because he was “committed to his job and understands the strategic objectives of the SABC”.

Scout Willis Explains Her Topless Photos To Protest Against Instagram

Scout Willis, is the 22-year-old daughter of actors Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, and she recently protested against Instagram, the social photo sharing site by walking topless through the streets of New York City. Instagram does not allow nude pictures on the site, so scout posted her topless photographs on Twitter, and has now followed it up with an essay in XOJane.

Read her article below and share what you think of her actions. Should women be free to move around topless like men and share naked photos on social media?

Dads Who Do Household Chores More Likely to Have Ambitious Daughters - Study

To all the dads out there: if you want your daughters to aspire to high-paying careers, you might have to start doing some extra chores around the house.

A new study conducted by a group of psychologists at the University of British Columbia suggests that fathers who perform household chores, like cleaning dishes and doing laundry, are more likely to raise daughters who aspire to less-traditional female careers, such as becoming a CEO or lawyer.

What Are The Yardsticks We Measure Women By? Regina Askia Williams

Coming on the heels of the bride price debate [read here], former beauty queen and veteran Nollywood actress Regina Askia Williams wrote an interesting article about the identity of Nigerian woman and the societal pressures and demands placed around her marital status, age and what she does with her private parts. She shared the following on her Facebook page.

Many Find the Bride Price Calculator Funny, But There is a Petition to Remove It?

I confess, I was not upset at all by the Bride Price website [read here], but found it funny. I didn't over think it, probably because I've been really saddened by the high spate of violence in Nigeria and needed something to make me laugh. I did the price check with Atala who pointed out how it could be problematic.