Dealing With Disappointment: Feminist Edition

The sun was finally out, it was warm enough to leave the house without a coat, and I was about to go on a weekend trip to an even warmer and sunnier place with my husband. I was pretty happy … Read More

Fat Girl 101: Why Fat Doesn’t Mean Unhealthy, And Other Misconceptions

Trigger warning for discussions of fatphobia, negative body image/body dysphoria and disordered eating.

The word “fat”, in all its various (and overwhelmingly negative) connotations, often brings to mind specific images and types of people. There’s the funny fat … Read More

No, “Looking Great” Is Not a Matter of Feminism

I found this article in an old issue of Harpers Bazaar. It was written by Elizabeth Wurtzel, a woman (and prolific writer) who, self-described, is 45 but looks half her age. And she has not pulled off this remarkable feat … Read More

I Define My Own Oppression

For the last couple weeks, I’ve been experiencing a lot of backlash in terms of my own definitions of oppression and privilege. I’m not here writing an article about the specifics of either – although if you are misinformed or … Read More

School Dress Codes: More Harmful Than Your “Too Short” Skirt

If you are (or were) one of the 23% of students forced to wear uniforms to school, you know how restrictive and totally uncool they are.

For the remaining 77% of students lucky enough to not be in uniform … Read More

Women in Music: What Do Rihanna and Yoko Ono Have in Common?

In most situations in the world, women are held to unachievable double-standards—to be a virgin but always willing to have sex, to be sexy but never considered slutty, and to never be needy but always answer to men. It has … Read More

Why Are Girls Given Dolls, And What Else Can We Learn From Toys?

I have a memory of being on a talk show about toys as a child. For most of the show, a group of children and I sat at one side of the room blurting out sporadic comments while the host … Read More

The Ugly Truth: It’s Okay To Not Feel Beautiful

Over the past month or two, a couple of student groups at the small liberal arts college I attend have been leading what are intended to be affirmation initiatives, seeking to improve the images students have of themselves by … Read More

Does Your Lifestyle Make You Unworthy of Feminism?

The term “lifestyle feminism” became a buzzword in the second wave of feminism during the 1960’s and 70’s (in the Western-centric view of “waves” of feminism). The term, as defined by influential writer Bell Hooks in Feminism is For … Read More

Toxic Pinning: Is Social Media the New Frontier For Fat-Shaming?

Social media is one of my top five favorite things. I’m on Facebook and Tumblr multiple times a day, and Pinterest is a relatively new hobby. I love having access to my friends and new people while putting my … Read More

Disney Sexes Up Brave’s Merida Before Letting Her in the Princess Club

On May 11th, 2013, Merida will become Disney’s 11th ‘official’ Princess.

Well, first of all, she’s already a princess. They call her a princess about a hundred times in the movie. So, this whole ‘induction’ as a Disney Princess can … Read More

Bridal Showers: A Celebration of the Bride or the Patriarchy?

Considering I’m 25 and single with only one married friend, I’ve never really put much thought into traditional pre-wedding activities. However, my best friend recently attended her cousin’s bridal shower, and spent the majority of her train ride back to … Read More