In the Summer issue of Ms., we look into the origins and consequences of a new Florida law that mandates that all 40 of the state’s public colleges and universities assess their academic offerings to safeguard against curricula “based on theories that systematic racism, sexism, oppression and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States.” This legislation could decimate degree programs in women’s and gender studies, Africana, ethnic and queer studies, among others.
And lest you think this is just a “Florida problem,” author Aviva Dove-Viebahn explains how the law fits into a radical right-wing strategy that extends nationwide. Lorna Bracewell, an associate professor at Flagler College in St. Augustine, warns that “if these policies are permitted to go into effect … It’s a death knell for public education in the state—and it’s not going to be confined to the state.”
This story is the latest installment in Ms.’ Women & Democracy series, exploring what it means to measure the ebb and flow of inclusive democracy, in the U.S. and globally, with the principles of gender equity front and center.
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Here’s a glimpse at what else you’ll find within the pages of the upcoming Summer issue:
- A look back at 50 years of women in hip-hop. On Aug. 11, 1973, hip-hop emerged from a party in the recreation room of a Bronx building at 1520 Sedgwick Ave. From that first party on, women—despite their marginalization in much of the music—have had a significant role to play. In “Turning 50,” scholar Janell Hobson writes women into the story while grappling with that ever-present dilemma: How do we love hip-hop when hip-hop doesn’t always love us back?
- A solution to inequality in professional sports: Let women and men play together. What if sports challenged male supremacy, rather than reinforcing it? Many feminists and sports sociologists think gender integration is the key. “Gender segregation makes us believe that men and women are fundamentally so different that they can’t even play sports together,” writes Susan Shaw. “Because that’s what we believe, that’s what we see.”
- A Ms. conversation with legal scholar Diane Rosenfeld and actor and activist Ashley Judd. Along with frequent Ms. contributor Carrie Baker, they discuss Rosenfeld’s new book, The Bonobo Sisterhood: Revolution Through Female Alliance, and reveal what some of humanity’s closest living relatives can teach us about preventing sexual violence. Rosenfeld has taught at Harvard Law School since 2004 and she founded its Gender Violence Program, yet in her book she looks outside of the law for solutions to men’s violence toward women. “Bonobos teach us that we have the power to thwart male sexual aggression through collective self-defense,” Rosenfeld says. “Standing up for women is what’s going to change the whole game.”
About the Cover
The cover of our Summer 2023 issue features a selection of headlines from the magazine’s 50 years—just a small sampling of Ms. articles that the Florida Legislature would likely find objectionable.
- “The Ticket That Might Have Been … President Chisholm” by Gloria Steinem, May 1973
- “The Women of #BlackLivesMatter” by Brittney Cooper, Winter 2015
- “Life on the Global Assembly Line” by Barbara Ehrenreich and Annette Fuentes, January 1981
- “The Dykes Next Door” by Judith Levine, October/November 2001
- “The Patriarchs’ War on Women” by Zoe Marks and Erica Chenoweth, Spring 2022
- “We Have Had Abortions” by Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, Spring 1972
- “JoAnne Little: The Dialectics of Rape” by Angela Davis, June 1975
You can read these articles and more in our upcoming book, 50 Years of Ms., and defy these far-right politicians. As contributor Aviva Dove-Viebahn wrote in her cover story, what they fear most is that “younger generations will be taught to think critically about the rampant misrepresentation and sanitation of American history and the continued discrimination against women, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.”
As always, Ms. remains dedicated to its mission of rebelling and truth-telling.
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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.
