#5SmartReads - September 14, 2022

Today’s #5SmartReads guest contributor is Madison T. Clark! When she isn't playing Let's Go Eevee or Animal Crossing on her Switch, Madison works as a freelance writer for startups in the healthcare and fintech spaces. She lives in her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri: a place she never thought she'd return to, and one she's embracing as an opportunity to slow down.

The German Soccer Association Just Set A Global Standard For Trans Inclusion (Them)

I cannot possibly overstate how important single country precedents are when it comes to international activities like athletics.

Considering that the global pinnacle of sport is the Olympic Games, these precedents will eventually lead to new global policies. What’s particularly special about this German case is that it extends all the way to youth leagues, empowering the next generation to grow up without knowing that their daily experiences are actually, in fact, revolutionary.

Utah Kept Them From Learning About Consent, So These Teens Found A Place To Have “The Talk” Together (Scientific American)

I’ll admit: I’ve genuinely never understood the approach to sex ed that is, essentially, no sex ed.

Understanding the basics of how bodies work is beneficial for all parties involved, from consent to the biological basics of menstruation.

Information is empowering.

So to see these young people create their own learning space after adult policies fail them is both heartwarming and, honestly, infuriating.

I hope the time comes -- and soon -- where this type of self-advocacy is unnecessary for youth everywhere.

How The Myth Of The “Girlboss” Harms Emerging Women In Tech (Tech Crunch)

The evolution of language is WILD.

I remember the time when being a “girlboss” was taken, by many, as a top-tier compliment.

It was a coming together of hustle culture celebration and multiple waves of feminism.

Now, I’m grateful to say, that era has ended and perceptions of good leadership have evolved.

This is a unique deep dive into that transition, using Glossier as a bit of a case study. (P.S. If you don’t follow Tech Crunch’s reporting, I highly recommend adding their newsletters to your inbox.)

Can Anything Stop Deepfake Porn? (Morning Brew)

Yet again, so-called tech evolutions are ultimately proving particularly detrimental to women.

If you’re not familiar with “deep fake” tech, this article describes it as “machine learning that creates a manipulated image or video that appears real.”

We’re still ages away from solving the “revenge porn” crisis, and this is only adding extensive more fuel to the same blazing fire.

‘Mango Man’ Is The Fruit’s Foremost Poet, Philosopher, Fan, And Scientist (NY Times)

When people are incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about niche passions, I feel as if I gain joy simply by osmosis.

This story captures Mr. Khan’s genuine awe for his primary niche: mangoes.

Apart from my own stomach’s passion for mango sticky rice, I knew little to nothing about the fruit before reading this article.

If there’s one thing I think we can all benefit from these days, it’s a little extra appreciation for so-called small pleasures like a juicy chunk of fresh mango.