Lynn Beisner shares what an unexpected request from her son is teaching her about feminism. For my 21st birthday I was given a cast iron skillet by a family matriarch. It is one of the most treasured gifts I have ever received, and it is the only thing other than photographs that I have held […]
Porn plays a significant role in shaping sexual culture, so the more porn reflects a feminist perspective on sex, the better off we’ll all be, says Russell O’Connor. It’s a common complaint among feminists that pornography “objectifies” women. Rightly so, since a lot of it does. Most (straight) pornography really does present women as mere […]
An invented Hallmark holiday that glorifies coupledom is ridiculous, but the reminder to celebrate love in all its forms is a nice thing, says Jenn Leyva. I remember Valentine’s Day in high school. Girls would open their lockers to find surprise gifts—flowers, giant cards, balloons, chocolates. Adorned with grandiose gifts, they would walk around all […]
Angi Becker Stevens desperately wanted to be one of the boys growing up, and eventually realized that her entire self-worth was dependent on boys’ opinions of her. As I remember it, I spent my early childhood in a refreshingly gender-neutral manner; I was equally fond of Legos and Barbies, Matchbox cars and model trains and […]
Despite many critics claiming Beyonce’s halftime show was overly sexual, Emily Heist Moss was thrilled by the performance, and says owning your sexuality and being sexualized are two different things. After Beyonce’s epic halftime extravaganza, the Internet temporarily became a platform exclusively designed to facilitate massive amounts of Bey-love. From the First Lady to Justin […]
Kelly Siegel says if you want to share a photo of your engagement ring on Facebook, fine. If you’d rather not, that’s fine too. Just stop arguing over the “right” way to get engaged. Marriage is not a competition. When my now-fiancé proposed after five years together, he got down on one knee and presented […]
Despite her unwavering commitment to feminism, Tina Rodia still loves the sport that is the ultimate display of male aggression. This Sunday, as two NFL teams play the last game of football season to determine the ultimate victor, I will spend most of the time reflecting on the surprising conundrum that professional football has introduced […]
Contrary to the stereotype, feminists can take a compliment, but only if it comes with no strings attached, says Emily Heist Moss. After my piece on street harassment, “A Letter to the Guy Who Harassed Me Outside the Bar,” a number of commenters wondered if I was, in my plea for empathy and understanding, condemning […]
Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. The minutes from an emergency family meeting my daughter called a few years ago read: “By a vote of 4 to 1, it is hereby resolved that Mom is banned from playing amateur electrician. Further, she must surrender the following so-called toys: the chainsaw, sledgehammer, […]
Last week, I chose to run Janine Kovac’s “Maybe You Are Ready For Kids, You’re Just Not Paying Attention.” I realize that I offended many of you with a piece that felt condescending, and at odds with Role/Reboot’s goal of being a supportive place for folks to navigate life decisions often based on outdated gender […]
This originally appeared on Ms. Magazine. Republished here with permission. (Warning: Piece contains abusive, woman-hating language and threats of violence) When I write about feminism and men’s violence against women, I often receive supportive comments. While some of the praise is earned, much of it gives me a lot of credit for doing very little. […]
Originally appeared on Everyday Feminism. Republished here with permission. The day I found out the baby I was carrying was a girl, I bought a frilly, pink dress. It had taken me a long time to get pregnant and I wanted a girl. Yes, I wanted a “healthy baby” but I was honest enough with […]
