State Department Dining, Muslimah Style

I recently accepted an invitation to attend a dinner at the State Department hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in honor of the holy month of Ramadan. The dinner itself, which takes place ...Read More

Do Men Make Better Women Than Women Do?

I choreograph a stage show for a drag queen. In his day-to-day life, this queen is a soft-spoken, 6’7 man who rides a road bike and enjoys fresh salads. In his drag life, he’s Barbie Banjée, ...Read More

Selling Old-School Motherhood With the Groceries

Today my mail included a supermarket coupon booklet which made me mad. I am a Mom seeking ideas for easy dinners and healthy snacks as I send my kids back to school. But before I could appreciate ...Read More

Equality, Without Marriage?

While following the ups and down of the Prop 8 trial, I was reminded of an editorial by Bob Morris in The New York Times way back in 2004. “Gay Marriage? How Straight” was a cheeky bit of contrarianism, ...Read More

Oh, Grow Up Already!

On Sunday, The New York Times Magazine cover story, “What Is It About 20-Somethings,” argued that society is in the thick of a changing timetable for the transition to adulthood. To explain why ...Read More

Marriage, Unnatural In Every Way

Following Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision overturning Proposition 8, the accusation that he is furthering “unnatural” marriage is being spouted so often that it is quite obviously a deliberate ...Read More

Stop Hitting on Me.

I’ve been unsure of how to approach this topic. But I think it must be said. Just because I am a young woman and I am alone does not give you permission to start hitting on me. I don’t want ...Read More

Mattel’s New “Monster High” Dolls Play On Old-School Stereotypes

Mattel’s Barbie never had her own kids, but the toy company isn’t opposed to procreation. In fact, it has now envisioned girl offspring from well-known supernatural figures–and molded ...Read More

Who’s Afraid of the Single Black Woman?

It was during one of those rainy Sunday afternoons–what I call my solitude time in the comfort of my home–that I discovered William Wyler’s 1949 movie The Heiress on TCM. I surf through ...Read More

Why Does a 30-Something Feminist Care About Dora the Explorer?

I can’t lie: I like Dora the Explorer, and I am 35 years old. My students bring me Dora paraphernalia and it adorns my office. Still, Dora and I have a complicated relationship. I’ve been following ...Read More

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