On my mind...

Girls have been on my mind more than usual this week, from an international tragedy, to some sobering statistics about girls getting married. Find out what Malala Yousafzai is up to next, Solange's thoughts about her teenage self, and a new magazine for girls.

1) On Monday, we were all shocked to learn of a terrorist attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. That it was an attack on a group comprised primarily of kids, teenagers, and their parents- and that Ariana Grande's fanbase is predominantly female and she's vocal about feminism and body positivity- adds an extra layer to the horrific nature of this attack. This piece explores the misogyny interwoven into this attack.

2) Child marriage is a human rights violation that takes place all over the world- including here in the United States. Every single state allows minors to marry, and 27 states have no minimum age for marriage. The majority of marriages involving a minor are between an adult man and a girl- these mostly aren't teenagers in love. The stories in this article are pretty disturbing, but it has a lot of illuminating information that I think most people aren't aware of.

3) Malala Yousafzai keeps up a pretty busy speaking schedule, and because she's so self-possessed, thoughtful, and insightful, it's easy to forget that she's still a teenager. I had wondered whether she was still in school. Turns out, Malala's been working hard in high school even when she's on the road and is in the midst of taking her A-Level exams. She's planning to start university at Oxford this fall. Go, Malala!

4) Solange wrote an expansive, thoughtful letter to her teenage self. There are a lot of gems, but "it’s not gonna always be easy, but I can promise you it will be fruitful." If you're transitioning to a new phase of life, or just thinking back on past milestones- like graduations- it will make you reflect on your own past.

5) Monday is Memorial Day aka the unofficial start of summer. And what is summer without delicious s'mores? Personally, I think s'mores are a year-round kind of thing, but there's nothing like roasting marshmallows over a campfire. There's a new kind of Smore in town- a new science magazine for girls! Targeted at girls 7-12, the magazine warns: "For most girls and boys, reading Smore may cause excessive questioning about everything. We take full responsibility for that!"