This week saw the first Chinese woman ever to walk in space. It also saw women’s bodily rights being restored and corporate response to abortions. Document Women found stories on safety and women navigating a new frontier.

Spain

In 2013, the Spanish conservative party rescinded a law that gave queer and single people access to publicly funded fertility treatment. While straight, married couples were able to access free fertility treatment in public hospitals, those exempted were forced to pay out of pocket for the same treatments. 

Last week, however, this decision was reversed by Spain’s health minister, extending free fertility treatment to queer women, single cis women, as well as non-gender-conforming individuals.

Read more here.

Global 

As the world continues to explore and adopt virtual spaces and digital trading, A British activist moves to bring 100,000 girls and women into cryptocurrency by the end of 2022. Maliha Abidi created her first NFT a few months ago and is launching Women Rise, to include women’s participation in the NFT space.

Read more here. 

United States of America

Initially seen as a religious, women’s rights and health issue, abortion is evolving into being a company’s commitment to social responsibility and gender equality for its workforce.  Companies like Netflix and Lyft join the battle against the Texas abortion ban, showing a shift in corporate thinking on abortion. 

Read more here. 

China

This week, China’s Wang Yaping has become the first Chinese woman to walk in space as part of a six-month mission to the country’s space station.

Read more here.

The United Kingdom

The British government announced that The Safety of Women at Night Fund will award up to £5 million to 22 organisations focused on improving the safety of women and girls at night.  This policy reiterates the importance of women’s and girls’ safety after a similar strategy was launched in July. 

Read more here.