Since its earliest days, Ms. was a brazen act of independence, demonstrating the untapped potential for journalism that centered news andnalysis on women and their lives and made a feminist worldview more accessible to the public.
Fifty years later, that legacy still shines bright. Ms. remains a trusted feminist source for news, analysis and commentary, and a unique catalyst for forging community, elevating ideas and inspiring action. And now in 2023, as the fights for women’s rights—and for democracy, justice and the rule of law—face ever more urgent challenges, the goals of Ms. surely are as relevant today as they were five decades ago, if not more so.
How else to commemorate all that Ms. means to generations of readers? With an equally extraordinary book, of course!
Edited by Ms. executive editor Katherine Spillar, 50 YEARS OF Ms.: THE BEST OF THE PATHFINDING MAGAZINE THAT IGNITED A REVOLUTION (Alfred A. Knopf) will be released in September and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with our readers—and with the entire world.
First and foremost, it is a stunning collection of the most audacious, most norm-breaking coverage Ms. has published—on women, men, politics (sexual and otherwise), marriage, family, education, work, motherhood, reproductive rights, LGBTQ lives, racial justice, and so much more. It is filled with the best of its featured and award-winning fiction and poetry. And, of course, no Ms. anthology would be complete without highlights from the thousands of letters to Ms.that poured in over the years from women and men, girls and boys, from across the country and around the globe.
50 YEARS OF Ms. showcases it all, decade by decade, as well as behind-the-scenes photographs that reveal and reflect the societal changes set in motion by Ms.—and, of course, the often startling, always iconic covers that galvanized readers.
There are essays, profiles, features by and conversations with Pauli Murray, bell hooks, Billie Jean King, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Allison Bechdel, Brittney Cooper and Joy Harjo, as well as fiction and poetry by Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde, Joyce Carol Oates, Adrienne Rich, Rita Dove and Sharon Olds, among many others.
As it proudly features some of the most revolutionary writers and thinkers of the past half century, the book is as much a reflection on the era, as it is a practical roadmap for the path forward—and what the future of feminism demands: work that is bold, imaginative, collaborative.
So says former House Leader Nancy Pelosi: “Full of practical guidance and thoughtful insight, Ms. remains an indispensable resource for navigating the challenges of the 21st century—because, as I always say, when women succeed, America succeeds!”
Images of Pelosi have graced the cover of Ms. magazine three times—including in her killer red coat and sunglasses in as she emerged victorious following a confrontation at the White House with Trump. (Ms. was the first and only publication to put her on the cover when she became the first woman speaker in U.S. history.)
We are in the midst of a most consequential time for women’s rights globally and in this country. The stakes remain sky high in the next Congress—from the fight to bring the ERA over the finish line, to reimagining a new future for reproductive health, rights and justice—and we have a Supreme Court continues to slash and burn precedent and roll back fundamental rights. While the state of play in state legislatures includes an exciting influx of new progressive (and all-female) trifectas on the one hand—on the other, many more determined to escalate attacks on equality, access to healthcare, and education. And of course the 2024 elections and presidential campaign loom large.
If you’re a feminist looking for inspiration—and, really, who isn’t?—look no further than 50 YEARS OF Ms. We can’t wait to share it all with you: Pre-order your copy today.
Journalist Soledad O’Brien shares: “50 YEARS OF Ms. comes at the right moment in history and will serve as both a reminder of what we are capable of and a blueprint for how we continue the fight for women’s equality.”
Professor Loretta Ross proclaims the book “a must-read for all feminists.” (We agree!)
And legendary activist Dolores Huerta describes 50 YEARS OF Ms. as “the feminist fuel we all need—for those of us who’ve been on the frontlines for generations, and for the young leaders of today and tomorrow. Sí se puede!”
Up next:
U.S. democracy is at a dangerous inflection point—from the demise of abortion rights, to a lack of pay equity and parental leave, to skyrocketing maternal mortality, and attacks on trans health. Left unchecked, these crises will lead to wider gaps in political participation and representation. For 50 years, Ms. has been forging feminist journalism—reporting, rebelling and truth-telling from the front-lines, championing the Equal Rights Amendment, and centering the stories of those most impacted. With all that’s at stake for equality, we are redoubling our commitment for the next 50 years. In turn, we need your help, Support Ms. today with a donation—any amount that is meaningful to you. For as little as $5 each month, you’ll receive the print magazine along with our e-newsletters, action alerts, and invitations to Ms. Studios events and podcasts. We are grateful for your loyalty and ferocity.
