I feel heartbroken at the failure of my society to protect and respect us all equally, and I want those closest to me to feel this way too. My father doesn’t understand why I’m committed to racial justice. It’s always been bewildering to him, maybe cute or exciting on the good days, self-indulgent and misguided on […]
Some women want children, some don’t, some don’t find the right partner, others are biologically unable to have children. But no matter how much has changed, women continue to be viewed through the motherhood lens. Abused children. Abandoned animals awaiting adoption at rescue centers. Young girls who are married off as children in countries that […]
I know it’s a long shot, but maybe I can help change someone’s mind, to help someone see that this is personal, not political. And it could affect your sister, your neighbor, or your daughter, at any time. This isn’t about politics. It’s about compassion. Earlier this week, my therapist noted that it has been […]
I’ve paid too much of my hard-earned money supporting a fantasy world where half the human population has gone missing. I’m a huge fan of the blog Reel Girl, whose tagline “Imagining gender equality in the fantasy world” says it all. It was on Reel Girl’s Facebook wall that the exchange below took place. The thread […]
Football is built on exploitation and violence on an industrial scale, and the fact that it remains so popular in America is a national disgrace. I just read a story about Adrian Peterson, the National Football League player who recently apologized for beating the hell out of his 4-year-old son. Even though I don’t watch football […]
As her boyfriend, it pains me to see her experience this. As a white man, it frustrates me to accept the fact that her experience is one I can’t fully understand. “It’s all over Facebook,” Danielle told me, sighing in frustration. The grand jury had just decided not to indict the white police officer who […]
Woman-on-woman aggression really freaks people out. “I don’t know why I’m being such a coward about this,” I mused to my mom over Skype. “I think it must be my own internalized chauvinism or something. I’ll usually fight with anyone. As long as it’s a man.” The subject of my agonizing was a collaboration on […]
After the decision in Ferguson, my fear of bringing you into this world has begun to outweigh the joy and honor it would be to raise you. As much as I love you before I even know you, there are twice as many people who will hate you already. The color of your skin will […]
