Rani Reads July 2025

A Month of Feminist Momentum, Progress, and Protest

July has been a powerful month. A time for reflection, action, and some serious inspiration. Across the world and right here at home, feminist voices have been rising up, calling for change, inclusion, and justice in all kinds of spaces.

That spirit of resistance and celebration was felt in the streets of London on 5 July, as around 35,000 people gathered for the Pride Parade. It was vibrant and joyful, but also fiercely political. Prominent voices like: Olly Alexander, Shon Faye, and Ellis Howard. They spoke out against the UK Supreme Court’s recent ruling narrowing the legal definition of "woman." Their message was clear: trans rights are human rights, and the fight for gender justice must include everyone.

Back on our screens, feminist concerns have been front and centre too. Women’s Aid has spoken out about the troubling behaviour of some male contestants on Love Island. Highlighting manipulation, dishonesty, and a lack of respect. It’s not just reality TV drama; these patterns reflect bigger issues in how we think and talk about relationships, boundaries, and consent in everyday life. It’s a conversation worth having.

The Lionesses have done it again! Euro 2025 champions! Their victory marks a historic moment for women’s football, smashing records in viewership, sponsorship, and prize money. With UEFA investing €1 billion into the women’s game, and €41 million awarded this summer, it’s clear: women’s sport is the main event. This win isn’t just for the team, it’s for every fan, every girl with a dream, and a future where equality in sport is non-negotiable. What a moment. 

At the UN’s High Level Political Forum, UN Women shared a powerful new policy brief. It centres women from communities that have too often been overlooked in development and humanitarian work and it doesn’t pull any punches. The brief calls for bold reform and serious investment if we want to see real progress on gender equality, especially for those pushed furthest to the margins. It’s a reminder that when we uplift the most excluded, we all move forward.

So whether it’s in international policy rooms, crowded streets, TV studios, or football stadiums, one thing is clear: the feminist movement is alive and pushing forward on all fronts. And we’re all part of that story.