The rise of the self centred woman

Plus: Postpartum statues 🤰Boys and AI 🤖 Running topless 👟

Vogue brilliantly explored why boyfriends are no longer being spotlighted on women’s social media

When British Vogue posed the question, “Is having a boyfriend embarrassing now?”, it captured a growing shift in how women define themselves. Caroline Millington explores how the idea of “decentring men” has evolved into empowerment, arguing that being confidently self-centred means valuing independence and self-love without losing compassion or connection.

Read the full article below.

Welcome back to Take The Lead, the fortnightly newsletter from The Female Lead.

Here’s your roundup of our most-read and most-subscribed-to articles of the last month.

A one-of-a-kind statue celebrating post-partum women was unveiled in London and the internet erupted — not with praise, but with outrage. We explored the story behind Mother Vérité, the women who created her, and what the fierce reaction reveals about how we still see women’s bodies in public.

A third of boys think women’s rights are unimportant — and many are turning to AI for connection. Our latest piece explores what’s driving this shift and how we can help the next generation grow into allies, not adversaries.

Louise Butcher, a cancer survivor and breast cancer advocate shared how embracing her topless runs helped her reclaim her body, her identity, and her life.

And, TV presenter and activist Ashley James reflects on the lessons she’s learned through her twenties and thirties, sharing seven powerful truths about confidence, sisterhood, and self-worth to help the next generation of girls grow up freer and more fearless.

We also shared the latest issue of RISE, our educational newsletter which included toolboxes for teachers and conversation starters for parents, covering the representation of female friendship in modern media.

Enjoy this issue, share it if you like it, and please reply directly to this email to let us know what you think.

You can also catch up on our most recent full newsletter here.

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