Women in the News: February 2026

Visibility isn’t optional for women

We think, we need to highlight women in the news with our voices – female voices, opinions and achievements. Follow along as we collect articles across different news sites reporting about women. This is a working document -> Send us your February 2026 finds via Bluesky or Threads.


She was supposed to be the first teacher in space. 40 years later, her mission continues Science Space (CNN 02/01/26)
NASA astronaut Suni Williams retires months after return from troubled mission to orbit Science Space (CNN 02/01/26)

Lisa Bloom on the fight for Epstein’s victims: ‘So many powerful men were enablers US Crime (The Guardian 02/02/26)
Diana Moreno, the Ecuadorian migrant and friend of Zohran Mamdani who hopes to replace him in the New York State Assembly US Politics (El Pais 02/02/26)

We want to make women visible, because visibility isn’t optional. It’s vital.

Laura Fernández, the governing party’s candidate, will be Costa Rica’s next president after a decisive first‑round win Costa Rica Politics (El Pais 02/02/026)
The evolution of Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister standing up to Trump Denmark Politics (El Pais 02/02/026)
Denmark’s generous child care and parental leave policies erase 80% of the ‘motherhood penalty’ for working moms Denmark Social Life (TheConversation 02/02/26)

How to build a better, fairer, less stressed society UK Society (The Guardian 02/04/26)
A moment that changed me: I shaved off my hair – and immediately became an invisible woman UK Society (The Guardian 02/04/26)
Top Women Wealth Advisors 2026 (Forbes 02/04/26)
Women have been mapping the world for centuries – and now they’re speaking up for the people left out of those maps World Science (TheConversation 02/04/26)

Supporting Women Is Not Only ‘What’s Right,’ It’s Good Business US Consumer Market (Newsweek 02/05/26)
Women have the same rates of autism as men – but get diagnosed less Health (The Independent 02/5/26)

How can we progress?

Sometimes it is as easy as liking a post or sharing a story. Together we can work on it every day to make a difference. We are putting our new image together – piece by piece.

• Like posts from women
• Share stories, products and opinions by women
• Actively notice women in the room and your work environment and support them
• Ask AI for inclusive outputs
• Tag and cite women experts 

Menstrual blood test could offer alternative to cervical screening for cancer Women’s Health (The Guardian 02/06/26)
Meet the women protecting India’s snow leopards India Environment (BBC 02/06/26)

Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister who surprised the world: ‘Public life has become dehumanized’ New Zealand Public Life (El Pais 02/07/26)

From rural margins to media trailblazers: India’s women journalists are rewriting the news India News (UN 02/08/26)

Why More Women Are Questioning Traditional Leadership Approaches Leadership (Women’s eNews 02/09/26)
Women and girls in science: Dismantling barriers, closing gender gaps World Science (UN News 02/10/26)

Scientific journals place less trust in women researchers Science (02/11/26 El Pais)
The Rise of the Female Investor Is Redefining the Workplace (Newsweek 02/12/25)
Astronaut Sophie Adenot prepares for her first takeoff France Science Space & Astronomy (Le Monde 02/12/26)

Judit Polgár, the chess master taught to beat men Hungary Chess (02/13/26 El Pais)
Sussan Ley and the glass cliff: Does Australian politics still have a problem with women? Australia Politics (BBC 02/13/26)

World Entrepreneurs and Investment Forum puts women at the heart of economic transformation World Economics (UN 02/14/26)
Robin Wall Kimmerer, scientist and writer: ‘Capitalism is not a natural phenomenon; it’s a choice’ World Culture (El Pais 02/14/26)

When women are visible in science, girls see possibility.

strivetobe.me

One Olympic sport doesn’t allow women Olympia Sport (NPR 02/16/26)
I was told my inability to conceive a second child was a ‘mystery’. In fact, I was simply ignored UK Womens Health (The Guardian 02/16/26)
New UK border rules for dual nationals are discriminatory against women, campaigners say Brexit (The Guardian 02/16/26)
The myth that women are more naturally empathetic than men Psychology (The Guardian 02/16/26)
Agnès Delahaye, historian: ‘The Minneapolis protests are part of the major historical social struggles in the US’ France Politics History (Le Monde 02/16/26)
‘A drunk woman is shameful’: Why women face greater risks but receive less support for alcohol addiction Health (Le Monde 02/16/26)

Starmer appoints Antonia Romeo as head of civil service UK Politics (The Guardian 02/19/26)
Ana Fernández-Arcos, neurologist: ‘There are people who give so much importance to dreams that they can change their lives’ World Health (El Pais 02/19/26)
Laura Wasser, the queen of celebrity divorces, launches a breakup-themed clothing line World Celebrities (El Pais 02/19/26)
Woman whose rape complaint triggered Spanish police chief’s resignation is ‘devastated’ after her identity is shared on social media Spain Crime (El Pais 02/19/26)
Christine Lagarde may leave European Central Bank before end of term EU Economics (Le Monde 02/19/26)

“Female visibility is power — especially for the next generation.”

Gisèle Pelicot on rape, courage and her ex-husband: ‘He was loved by everyone. That’s what is so terrifying’ France Crime (The Guardian 02/21/26)

‘A patriotic act’: the Ukrainians having babies and raising children in wartime Ukraine Families (The Guardian 02/22/26)
‘The anxieties just lift’: why domestic abuse refuges are turning to female tradespeople Society (The Guardian 02/22/26)
How football is helping girls fight against forced marriage India Society (BBC 02/22/26)
Disassembling the tradwife: She used to love her life. Then everything changed US Society (CNN 02/22/26)

Susan George, French-American political scientist and figure of the alter-globalization movement, dies France/US Science (Le Monde 02/24/26)

Collection of articles which highlight women in the news

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