Culture

Sobering Realities: Women Write Their Way into the Addiction Canon

illustration of a sad woman’s face surrounded by a carousel of galloping horses
by Britni de la Cretaz
December 2, 2020 at 9:31am
Slowly but surely, women have been adding their stories to the memoir canon.
Michelle Buteau, who has light skin and curly hair parted down the middle, stands on stage in a glittery blazer during her comedy special.

BitchWatch: 9 Comedy Specials to Help You Feel Less Alone This Holiday Season

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
December 1, 2020 at 11:41am
Because we all deserve a laugh right about now. Read more »
Two young women sit next to each other while dressed for tennis. One is a Black girl with an afro and dark skin, and the other is pale with red hair.

The Missed “Magical Negro” Trope in “The Queen’s Gambit”

by Gloria Oladipo
November 25, 2020 at 2:46pm
We have to do better. Read more »
Two white women lean into each other and laugh in a movie theater. One has short blond hair and the other has brown hair with bangs. They are wearing winter clothes.

“Happiest Season” Shows Queers Joy Is Sometimes Elusive

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
November 25, 2020 at 10:37am
Happiest Season has big shoes to fill though there is really no other movie like it. Read more »
Dolly Parton, who is white with blond hair, is glowing and wears a glittery gown.

BitchWatch: 15 Holiday Movies Feminists Should Watch this Winter

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
November 25, 2020 at 10:03am
Happy watching and happy holidays. Read more »
One white teen girl and one white woman wear oversized white wigs with massive bangs that hang over their eyes.

Sadly, Sia is Far From The First Person to Tokenize Autistic People

by Alaina Leary
November 24, 2020 at 12:49pm
Sia’s response has made one thing clear: this film isn’t it. Read more »
two young women standing side-by-side in an open parking lot

The Corn-Fed Whiteness of Rural Literature

by s.e. smith
November 24, 2020 at 9:00am
Much of this canon is white and male, fetishizing a version of rural life that never truly existed. Read more »
a collage of four book covers: Lives of Great Men, Welcome to Lagos, The Death of Vivek Oji, and Under the Udala Trees

4 Nigerian Authors to Read Who Haven’t Been Proudly Transphobic

by Gloria Oladipo
November 20, 2020 at 1:58pm
Continue investing in other Nigerian authors seeking to challenge some of Nigeria’s cultural norms. Read more »
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

White Rage, White Guilt: How Long Do We Wait for White Women to Learn?

by Katherine Morgan
November 20, 2020 at 12:31pm
I believe that the intentions were good, but the worst thing about good intentions is that sometimes the energy can be misplaced. Read more »
Donald Trump, a white dumpy man wearing a navy blue suit, talks to journalists in front of the White House

The Media Is Fed up with Trump. Finally.

by s.e. smith
November 19, 2020 at 2:27pm
Legacy publications are starting to publish critical analysis of breaking news with a healthy dose of context. Read more »
a pink sign reads Woman On a Mission surrounded by yellow sticky notes with inspirational message

Spiritual Currency: The Manifestation Grift Comes to Instagram

by Michelle Polizzi
November 16, 2020 at 11:29am
Manifestation influencers like to say that the only thing standing between a person and their dreams is mindset, but this principle only works for the select few who already hold the right cards. Read more »

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Best of Bitch

The Feminist Power of Female Ghosts

The Ring
by Andi Zeisler
October 3, 2017 at 8:21am
The female ghost is an enduringly fascinating figure. Read more »

No Disrespect: Black Women and the Burden of Respectability

an illustration of Black women standing around together in a circle
by Tamara Winfrey Harris
Summer 2012 • Fame + Fortune
Hollywood still filters (and distorts) the lives and histories of minorities through the eyes of the majority. Read more »

"Moonlight" is an Essential Work of Art for the Current Political Moment

by Nijla Mu'min
December 5, 2016 at 8:15am
Moonlight displays the kind of empathy and humanity that we desperately need right now. Read more »

Black Girls Hunger for Heroes, Too: A Black Feminist Conversation on Fantasy Fiction for Teens

by Zetta Elliott
December 17, 2013 at 3:19pm
What happens when two great black women fiction writers get together to talk about race in young adult literature? That's exactly what happens... Read more »