Two identities that appeared to be bitter enemies actually fit together quite well. My experience with the Christian faith took off when I joined campus ministries while an undergrad at Rutgers University. Being a member of these groups came with perks: I always found myself surrounded with friends. Bible studies, movie nights, and hangouts were […]
This originally appeared on Everyday Feminism. Republished here with permission. Even if she will eventually regret the decision not to have kids, who are you to tell her that? Even as women continue to break down the barriers of gendered expectations, they’re still faced with an allegedly fundamental question: whether or not to have children. We […]
Is there a way to use the time we’ve been given not more productively, but more meaningfully? Everyone (well, mostly women) keeps talking about how BUSY they are all the time. —I see in an email from my editor on Monday at 7:48am—It’s like suddenly, being “busy” is a badge of honor or something. I just want […]
This originally appeared on Cognoscenti. Republished here with permission. From a young age, boys receive the same lesson: Conform to narrow gender performance rules or face humiliation and, very often, violent repression. I was late that day on my way to the lunch room in high school. The hallway was almost empty. A couple of older […]
This originally appeared on Mamamia. Republished here with permission. My energy and my time is finite. By saying “no,” I’ve disappointed people and I’ve missed some interesting opportunities. But the payoff so far has been big. When I posted this on Facebook, the response was immediate: I’m not sure how this became The Year Of Saying No. […]
Just months before I learned of my PCOS diagnosis, I admitted that I want a child of my own. But now, that may not be possible. I should have written this essay weeks ago. I wanted to; I really did. For the last month, words would swirl around my head, forming perfect sentences in perfect […]
Could a simple change of phrase help to change the world? Today I want to ask you to start paying more attention to your metaphors. I know what you’re thinking: “What the hell do metaphors have to do with social change?” A lot, actually, so I hope you’ll hear me out. I believe some of the […]
Mother’s Day can be difficult for women struggling with infertility. Here’s how to best support them. Spring is a hard time to be feeling infertile. Mother’s Day, rebirth, babies out in their strollers—you know what I’m saying. One spring, I was the woman who secretly wanted to be a mother. The next year, I not […]
