The front cover of Aspen Matis’ memoir, A Girl in the Woods, bears the lines: “On my second night of college, I was raped. Shattered and alone, I fled to the Mexican border and headed north through 2,650 miles of desert and mountains to Canada, walking the height of America in search of my home. […]
Author: Emma Niles
Emma Niles is a recent graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz and an editorial intern at Ms. Follow Emma on Twitter @emmalorinda.
Women in Saudi Arabia Register to Vote for the First Time
In 2011, Saudi Arabia’s late King Abdullah officially granted women the right to vote and run in elections starting in 2015. Now, that decree is taking effect and voter registration is beginning across the kingdom. On August 30, candidates will also begin to register; it’s estimated that around 70 women will do so. There is already […]
We Heart: The Feminism of “Dear Abby”
“Dear Abby,” a popular advice column featured in newspapers around the country, is well-known for its heartfelt (and quick-witted) responses. But did you know that the writers behind “Dear Abby” have also dished out sound advice related to sexual health and gender? This Monday, Abby answered a question from “Stunned in Pennsylvania,” who wrote to her seeking advice on […]
The Worst Things Donald Trump Has Said About Women
In one of the best, sassiest ways possible, supermodel Heidi Klum has “trumped” Donald Trump. Just a few days ago, Trump felt it was prudent to give The New York Times his opinion on Klum’s looks: “Sadly, she’s no longer a 10.” While the internet seethed at yet another example of Trump’s overt sexism, Klum fired […]
We Heart: Janelle Monáe’s #BlackLivesMatter Activism
Last Friday, singer Janelle Monáe appeared on the Today show to perform as part of its summer concert series. After finishing her song “Tightrope,” she began to give an impassioned speech to the still-cheering crowd: Yes Lord! God Bless America! God Bless all who have lost lives to police brutality! We want white America to […]
Ending the Rape Kit Backlog: What’s the Price of a Survivor’s Peace of Mind?
A nationwide investigation spearheaded by USA Today has found that at least 70,000 rape kits sit untested in laboratories around the country. While Detroit and other cities have made headlines for their determination to clear rape kit backlogs (in Detroit’s case, only after the Department of Justice found its police department guilty of “negative, victim-blaming beliefs” in 2008) this […]
Country’s Largest National Security Lab Gets First-Ever Woman Director
Sandia National Laboratories, one of three of the national security labs run under the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, recently made a groundbreaking staff change. Earlier this summer, the lab announced that Jill M. Hruby would take over the role of president and director of the facility, effective July 17. She’s the first […]
10 Title IX Activists We Love
Title IX, a federal law that prevents discrimination in educational institutions on the basis of sex, has helped thousands of students around the country file complaints against their universities when reports of campus sexual assault have been mishandled. In recent years, the federal government has increased its support for sexual assault survivors and taken steps to […]
6 Celebrity Teens Who Have Spoken Up for Gender Equality
Recently, 16-year old actor Amandla Stenberg drew both praise and criticism when she called out reality TV star Kylie Jenner for posting a photo of herself to Instagram wearing cornrows. Even though Stenberg was criticized by adults and attacked by many of Jenner’s 29.5 million social media followers, she didn’t back down from her point: If Jenner […]
Is this the End of American Apparel’s Controversial Ads?
Clothing brand American Apparel is no stranger to controversy. Over the years, its risqué ads—from in-your-face billboards to shocking online campaigns—have incited everything from mild discomfort to serious complaints. And it’s no wonder why: For years, the American Apparel image has been inextricably intertwined with the exploitation of women’s bodies. Not only are AA’s models often scantily clad, many look underage and […]