Culture

The Dating Game: The Other Woman, And Why She Isn't Your Enemy

The person with whom you have decided to have a monogamous relationship owes you fidelity, as you owe that person the fidelity you also promised. If that person breaks that promise, I can guarantee one thing: he or she made the choice to do so. Read more »

Genderlicious: Dear Olivia Munn

Dear Olivia Munn, There has been a lot of noise about you over the past two months. And it has mostly been about how you are a... Read more »

Push(back) at the Intersections: Sluts, Bores, Attention Whores: How We Talk About Female Creators

The polarization that surrounds discussions about works of pop culture created by women can sometimes make it really hard to fairly and honestly critique female creators. We all internalize misogyny to some extent and I am never surprised, though I am disappointed, when it expresses in pop culture... Read more »

Douchebag Decree: Dr. Laura thinks you're being "hypersensitive"

  In more than three decades as an author, radio host, and moral proselytizer Laura Schlessinger has been called out more than once. In 1998, the woman lambasted the irrationality of her fellow vagina-Americans in the bestselling book Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives was confronted... Read more »

Push(back) at the Intersections: How About Some -isms with Your Feminism?

What do Mary Daly, Margaret Sanger, Nellie McClung, Martha Griffiths, Gloria Steinem, Geraldine Ferraro, Julie Bendel, Robin Morgan, Germaine Greer, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Janice Raymond, Sheila Jeffreys, and Beth Elliott have in common? You were going to tell me they’re feminist icons,... Read more »

Push(back) at the Intersections: Who Writes These Representations, Anyway?

The commonality of really problematic depictions in Hollywood and other aspects of pop culture is, to my eye, a pretty compelling argument for improving representation on the creative teams behind the media we consume. However, it’s clear that better representations aren’t necessarily... Read more »

Douchebag Decree: Douchebag Roundup

So many douchebags, so little time. This week, there were a number of worthy contenders, so let’s take a look at them, shall we? Read more »

Genderlicious: Video Weekend Anthems

I decided to share some of my favorite “don’t sweat it, you got it” anthems with you. Bag Lady - Erykah Badu One day, all them bags gon’ get in your way. I shook my booty to this song many a time before I realized that it is actually an anti-consumerist anthem packaged in the most... Read more »

Push(back) at the Intersections: Two Ways of Looking at Mad Men

I think the differences in the way people engage with Mad Men are a reflection of the different ways that people like to interact with pop culture. For some of us, it’s pure entertainment. For others, it’s something deeper and darker. I like pop culture I can sink my teeth into... Read more »

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Ms. Opinionated: I'm a Man. How Can I Help the Feminist Movement?

Welcome to Ms. Opinionated, our weekly advice column dealing with questions of life, love, feminism, and pop culture. This week, a reader... Read more »

In a Bizarre 1976 Comic Book, Spider-Man Fought the Villain of Misleading Sex Education

Last week, I came across a very strange comic book: in 1976, Planned Parenthood teamed up with Marvel to publish a one-off comic in which... Read more »

Eat, Pray, Spend: Priv-Lit and the New, Enlightened American Dream

Even as reports on joblessness, economic recovery, and home foreclosures suggest that no one is immune to risk during this recession, the popularity of women’s wellness media has persisted and, indeed, grown stronger.  Read more »

Sojourner Truth, Unveiled

The leaders of the [women's suffrage] movement trembled on seeing a tall, gaunt black woman in a gray dress and white turban,...

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