My Isolation Diary 
Success(ion)

By Emily Vogel

(Source: Giphy)

Dear Diary, 

The Roys are back in town! That's right, after two long years, HBO Max has reunited "Succession"-ites around the world with our favorite media mogul Logan Roy and his dysfunctional family... because what says "love" like casual backstabbing, shameless blackmail and some good ol' fashion bribery. (Finally, my family seems normal!)

When discussing "Succession," it's nearly impossible to carry on a conversation without listing the characters and acting like they're your best pals. "Roman? He's great, Cousin Greg and Tom? Gotta love 'em. What about Shiv? Ahhh, Shiv..."  

As I reflect on the season three premiere -- and without giving away any spoilers -- I have to say my favorite part of this episode was watching a bunch of white guys in suits fight and freight over powerhouse Black female attorney Lisa Arthur, played by Sanaa Lathan. As for our other favorite female characters Shiv and Gerri, we'll just have to see what's in store...

Barbra Streisand Funds UCLA Institute To Study Social Issues​

(Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

Barbra Streisand is funding a UCLA research institute, which will include four research centers that address her concerns:

• the Center for Truth in the Public Sphere
• the Center for the Impact of Climate Change
• the Center for the Dynamics of Intimacy & Power Between Women & Men
• the Center for the Impact of Art on the Culture 

The Barbra Streisand Institute will be housed in UCLA’s Division of Social Sciences.

“It is my great pleasure to be able to fund an institute at UCLA, one of the world’s premier universities,” Streisand said. “This will be a place where future scholars can discuss, engage and argue about the most important issues of the day; where innovators will speak truth to power, help save our planet, and make glass ceilings for women an anachronism; and in the process give us a chance to have a brighter, more promising future.”

UCLA has not disclosed the exact dollar amount of the gift, but Hunt says it creates an endowment so that the work of the Streisand Institute can continue for years to come.

Read full LAist article here. 

China's New Space Station Gets its First Female Astronaut

(Source: CNN)

Wang Yaping, 41, is the first woman assigned to work on China's new space station. She is part of a three-member team heading for the Tiangong -- or Heavenly Palace -- space station on early Saturday morning local time. 

This will be Wang's second space mission. A major in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force and a transport plane pilot, she was recruited as an aspiring astronaut in 2010. In 2013, she spent 15 days in orbit with the Shenzhou-10 mission. In an interview with CNN in 2015, Wang recounted the first moment she looked down on Earth from space.

"When I looked out of the window for the first time, I realized the true meaning of the power of life... that kind of beauty was just beyond comprehension," she said.

According to Wang, a manned space program without female astronauts would be incomplete.

"It is like a woman's role in the family. Women have responsibilities. We also make serious missions more lively and pleasant," she said.

Read full CNN article here. 

Texas Passes Bill Attacking Transgender Youth in Sports​

(Source: Getty Images via Teen Vogue)

A Texas bill banning transgender youth from joining school sports teams that align with their gender identity passed a final vote on Monday after clearing the House and state Senate last week.

House Bill 25 directly targets transgender youth from elementary through high school. The bill requires public schools to limit young trans athletes’ participation in sports “based on biological sex,” using trans students’ birth certificates as confirmation.

HB 25 failed to pass in three legislative sessions earlier this year. Now, the passage of the bill will make Texas the tenth U.S. state to restrict access to school athletics for trans children and teens.

Currently, Texas is home to one of the largest transgender populations in America. In a report released by The Trevor Project in September 2021, new data shows that the LGBTQ youth organization received “nearly 4,000 crisis contacts from transgender and nonbinary youth in Texas,” with many citing the anti-trans legislation being proposed within their state as a source of their distress.

Read full Teen Vogue article here. 

Candace Parker's Legacy Comes Full Circle with Second WNBA Championship

(Credit: Theo Sroomer for Forbes)

If you attended WrapWomen's Power Women Summit last year, you probably remember WNBA star Candace Parker who spoke about her fight against racial injustice.  A month after the event, the Windy City native announced she was leaving the Los Angeles Sparks after 13 seasons, to play for her hometown team, the Chicago Sky. 

On Sunday, Candace led the Chicago Sky to their first championship in franchise history with an 80-74 win over the Phoenix Mercury. With her WNBA championships, two NCAA titles and pair of Olympic gold medals, you might think the only thing Parker relates to is winning. But she said falling short has been a big part of reaching the highest heights.

"I could have four or five WNBA titles by now. And I could also have zero," said Parker, who had 16 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and four steals Sunday. "I think it's made me really understand how important possessions are. We think about that last-second shot, but every possession is equally important.

"And I think it's had me become less results-driven, and just focus on doing what you're supposed to do. You could literally do everything you're supposed to do and not reach your goal. But are you going to stop working?"

Read full ESPN article here. 

How to Ask Your Co-Worker About Their Pronouns and Not Make it Awkward

(Credit: Jena Ardell via Getty Images)

As people start to return to the office after a year and a half of remote work, they’re contending with a new pandemic phenomenon: getting to know their co-workers in real life. While this can be awkward in itself, it’s vital to establish early on that your workplace is an atmosphere where people’s pronouns and identities are respected, said Scott Turner Schofield, an educator and founder of Speaking of Transgender, a national training and consulting company.

Here are some steps you can take to cultivate a sense of inclusiveness in your office:

1. Make things simple and put your pronouns in your email signature.

2. Bring up your pronouns ― but don’t prod someone else to do the same.

3. Don’t ask someone about their “preferred” pronouns.

4. Don’t freak out if you get someone’s pronouns wrong. Just apologize and get it right next time.

5. Make sure your workplace’s inclusivity goes beyond “What are your pronouns?”

Read full HuffPost article here. 

Did We Just Become Best Friends?

WrapWomen is a power base of influential women of entertainment, media, technology and brands committed to changing the face of their industries. 

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In the meantime, stay safe and stay fabulous.

Xoxo,
Emily Vogel on behalf of WrapWomen
Director of Programming, TheWrap