Culture

Four women lean on each other in a sepia-toned photo. They wear fur and look at each other, smiling and laughing.

Audible Anger: Women in Rock Validate and Honor Anger

by Ellie Sharp
June 3, 2020 at 12:12pm
The very emotions rock centers, like anger, desperation, and full-bodied passion, are often weaponized against women. Read more »
Lil Nas X, a Black man, wears a blue snakeskin jacket, a long earring, and vintage sunglasses.

You Can’t Map White Guilt onto Black Celebrities

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
June 2, 2020 at 1:18pm
I’m uncomfortable with white people asking Black celebrities to respond to police brutality every time it occurs. Read more »
A grayscale collage of Beanie Feldstein, Ben Platt and Virgil Abloh. Blue Twitter dots spot the page.

Open Your Purse: On Twitter, Users Demand Celebrities Distribute Wealth to Fight Police Brutality

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
June 2, 2020 at 1:09pm
As everyday Twitter users discuss where to donate their one-time government stipend of $1,200, it can feel like the rich live on another planet where sharing wealth is a non-issue. Read more »
black image with white text reading "his name is Tony." with "his" slightly blurred

Tony McDade and Other Trans People Deserve Better than Deadnaming

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
June 2, 2020 at 12:29pm
It’s not accurate to call a trans person by incorrect pronouns, or a name that isn’t, and never was, their name. Read more »
Photo of author Bethany C. Morrow wearing glasses and patterned headband sitting in a bookstore

Bethany C. Morrow Rewrites the Siren Song

by Evette Dionne
June 2, 2020 at 9:00am
There’s no way to opt out of oppression and dehumanization, and no way to opt in to the power majority. Read more »
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is a white man with light eyes and short hair. He speaks on stage.

Manipulative Neutrality: Mark Zuckerberg Won’t Fact-Check Trump, Threatening Democracy in the Process

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
May 29, 2020 at 9:32am
At this point, it’s impossible to argue that social media is a neutral force. Read more »
Richa Shukla plays Kamala, an Indian woman with long, brown hair, in Never Have I Ever

(Un)happily Ever After?: TV Treats Arranged Marriage as an Archaic Indian Custom. It’s Not.

by Sanjna N. Singh
May 29, 2020 at 9:00am
These stereotypical depictions ignore, to their detriment, the fact that many arranged marriages are consensual. Read more »
Author Mia Mercado, who has dark brown hair with blond highlights, smiles at the camera.

Intentionally Hidden: Mia Mercado’s “Weird but Normal” Honors Shame

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
May 28, 2020 at 2:19pm
“The idea of female sexuality is scary to a lot of people.” Read more »
Kehlani, a light skinned Black woman, has short black hair parted down the center. She sings on stage while wearing a white turtleneck.

Done Searching: Kehlani Powerfully Conquers Growings Pains on New Album

by DeAsia Paige
May 27, 2020 at 4:21pm
Kehlani has always worn her heart on her sleeve. Read more »
Meredith Talusan, an Albino Filipino woman, has blond hair and wears a striped orange t-shirt as she smiles gently.

Without Condition: In “Fairest,” Meredith Talusan Dreams of Freedom from Others’ Perception

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
May 27, 2020 at 4:13pm
“My gender and race reflected on each other like a dizzying hall of distorted mirrors.” Read more »

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Best of Bitch

Why You Should Pay for Porn

by Casey Quinlan
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If you’re a progressive middle-class individual, chances are you think about where your food comes from. Maybe you try to buy shoes that are... Read more »

Will Filming the Police Keep Us Safe?

by Victoria Law
February 5, 2015 at 10:31am
There’s a cultural idea that having someone looking over our shoulder makes us behave better. From fake security cameras to Elf... Read more »

Mad Science: Deconstructing Bunk Reporting in 5 Easy Steps

Spring 2008 • Wired

British scientists have uncovered the truth behind one of modern culture's greatest mysteries: why little girls play with pink toys. Is it...

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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 »