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Nine women, the cast of the popular television show The L Word, pose dramatically for a promotional photo.

Narrowing the Chart: The Most Essential Episodes of “The L Word”

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
December 9, 2019 at 1:15pm
For those who are new to The L Word universe, here are the most essential episodes to watch to prep for Generation Q. Read more »
The cast of "The L Word: Generation Q" stands with their arms around each other.

“The L Word: Generation Q” Isn’t an Apology—It’s an Entirely Refreshed World

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
December 6, 2019 at 5:05pm
“The idea that normalization is radical is something that we talk a lot about the writers room.” Read more »
A white woman is staring intently at a pastry shell as she shapes it into a cup.

For “Great British Baking Show” Contestants, The Real Loss is the Endless Trolling

by Rae Robey
December 2, 2019 at 11:51am
It’s not just about harassing women online—it’s about re-establishing gendered power dynamics and punishing those who flirt with the domestic on public-facing platforms. Read more »
Sabina (Kristen Stewart), Jane (Ella Balinkska), and Elena (Naomi Scott) stand in the middle of an empty road in fighting poses.

In 2019, “Charlie’s Angels” Isn’t Just about Girl Power—It’s a Critique of Male Leadership

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
November 27, 2019 at 5:08pm
In 2019, Charlie’s Angels is less about impossibly perfect women saving the world. Read more »
Admitted 'Preppie Killer' Robert Chambers (center), a white man, walks out of Auburn Prison February 14, 2003 in Auburn, New York.

Dead Wrong: AMC’s “The Preppy Murder” Revisits a Shameful Perversion of Justice

by Andi Zeisler
November 27, 2019 at 1:03pm
Women’s lives, their senses of self, their career options, and their public images remain collateral when it comes time to uphold those same things for the men who harmed them.  Read more »
A close up of Brandon, played by Hilary Swank, a white teen boy with brown hair looks away from the camera

Fighting to Thrive: Reflecting on “Boys Don’t Cry” 20 Years Later

by William Horn
November 20, 2019 at 11:21am
Representation matters, but so do the stories that the media—film and television—chooses to tell about trans lives. Read more »
Eva Green, a white woman wearing a space suit, plays Sarah in Proxima

The Final (Male) Frontier: “Lucy in the Sky” and “Proxima” Bring Women Astronauts down to Earth

by Beatrice Loayza
November 19, 2019 at 9:01am
The final frontier continues to be a male-dominated arena, fertile ground for storytelling that taps into masculine psychologies in symbolically grandiose fashion. Read more »
Alma, an animated character on Undone, is a woman with brown hair who is staring forward intently

Bending Reality: “Undone” Is a Testament to Hollywood’s Cripping up Problem

by Sara Novic
November 15, 2019 at 4:01pm
Disabled stories need disabled writers, consultants, directors and producers, too. Read more »
Three teenagers, one white boy, one white girl, and one woman of color, lay together in a bed. The white girl is the only one awake; the other two sleep. They are all cuddled.

5 Underrated Messy Bisexual Characters Blessing Our Televisions

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
November 15, 2019 at 2:24pm
Most importantly, none of these characters are “perfect.” Read more »
Characters from the animated show Steven Universe from left to right: Amethyst, Garnet, Steven, and Pearl.

The “Steven Universe” Movie Reminds Us That Change is the Only Path to Growth

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
November 13, 2019 at 1:18pm
There are few cartoons—few series as a whole—as impactful as Steven Universe. Read more »

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Best of Bitch

Saying Goodbye to Maria and the End of a Sesame Street Era

by Angely Mercado
August 13, 2015 at 5:52pm
Growing up, Sesame Street's Maria was one of the best Latina role models I had. Read more »

The Dramatic History of American Sex-Ed Films

by Sarah Mirk
June 17, 2014 at 10:29am
In 1948, in a seventh grade classroom in Eugene, Oregon, a teacher dimmed the lights and flipped on 16mm projector. A film called Human... Read more »

Films and TV Portray Abortion as More Dangerous Than It Is

by Erica Thomas
February 19, 2014 at 3:47pm
Films and television shows tend to present a skewed portrayal of abortion—when fictional movies and TV shows include a plotline about abortion... 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 »