Culture

A Dallas Lawsuit Could Lead to Cities Being Even More Segregated

A Dallas housing case could have national ramifications. Photo of the Dallas skyline by ... Read more »

We Are Not “Just Like Everyone Else”

I recently attended an annual fundraiser for a high-profile LGBT nonprofit organization. Since they run multiple programs, some of which I support, I had no idea until I arrived that the entire event was dedicated to raising funds for what was billed as “marriage equality” (a term I loathe for many... Read more »

Serena and Venus Williams' Powerful Protest Against Racist Tennis Culture

The past year saw numerous displays of political protest at in professional athletics.  Read more »

Does Kinkphobia Color Criticism of "Fifty Shades of Grey"?

After nearly three years of writing about kink, feminism, and pop culture, I’m so tired of talking about a certain novel that I now make a point of only referring to it as “that book.” Criticizing Fifty Shades of Grey on either feminist or literary grounds is pretty much like... Read more »

"Amira & Sam" is a Rom-Com That Deals With Immigration, Identity, and Love

Early in the new romantic comedy Amira & Sam, we are introduced to Amira, a Muslim Iraqi immigrant, as she tries to sell pirated DVDs on a corner in New York City. Read more »

Removing Blackness from Media Narratives Removes an Appreciation for Black People

Issa Rae in a clip from her book trailer. I was mesmerized the first time I watched an episode of hit web series The Misadventures of Awkward Black GirlRead more »

The Bizarre Tradition of Vinegar Valentines

On Valentine’s Day, people exchange 150 million cards expressing their gooey sentiments. But in the past, people also exchanged a bizarro version of Valentine’s Day cards:... Read more »

Popaganda Episode: Can't Buy Me Love

  On Valentine's Day, Americans spend $17.6 billion on gifts. That’s roughly the same amount as the ... Read more »

Women of Color Working in STEM Fields Are Frequently Mistaken for Janitors

Teenage scientist Alexa Dantzler works in a chemisty lab at Emory University. Photo by Isabelle Saldana. Almost half of Black and Latina women working as scientists have been mistaken for... Read more »

She-Hulk, Attorney at Law: She's Mean, She's Green, and She Believes in Due Process

Avenger. Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Member of the Fantastic Four. In her many superhero roles over the past 35 years, She-Hulk has proven to be one of the strongest characters in the Marvel universe. But it’s her role as an attorney that’s been truly groundbreaking for women in comics.... Read more »

Pages

Know & Tell: The Literary Renaissance of Trans Women Writers

For so long, the people who wrote about us were not us. Finally, that is beginning to change. Read more »

Where My Girls At: Meet Two of Ferguson's Black Queer Activists

Amid national discussions of police brutality and systemic racism, Black women have been the loudest and most consistent voices demanding change. Read more »

The Dramatic History of American Sex-Ed Films

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 »

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 »