This year, the most talked about films did more than just spotlight the remarkable stories of fictional and real-life social justice agitators, instigators, and truth-tellers—they raised consciousness and actively challenged widely-held attitudes about race, sexuality, and gender.
Author: Kitty Lindsay
Kitty Lindsay is a Ms. blogger and works at the Feminist Majority Foundation. She is also creator and host of Feminist Crush, a weekly podcast featuring conversations with feminist artists and activists. Follow her on Twitter!
Inside the Year’s Most Unbelievable Story Of Rape
Marie was just 18 years old when she was bound, gagged and raped at knifepoint in her own home by a masked intruder in 2008. When she reported her assault to her local police department in Lynnwood, Washington, she was charged with a misdemeanor for false reporting, a crime punishable by up to one year […]
A Special Teacher’s Feminist Influence
Steve Jobs once said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.” When I learned it was National Teacher Appreciation Week and I began to reflect on my own experiences as a young student, I was reminded of all the remarkable educators who had guided me through my adolescent education. Some […]
There’s an Empowering Message Behind This Room Full of Dick Pics
Dicks, dicks and more dicks. These days it seems no matter where you turn, dicks of all sorts—whether in the flesh or artistically rendered—are popping up everywhere, from primetime TV to popular music to the U.S. presidential election. Thanks to the internet, the ubiquity of dicks has only increased, with penises proliferating on pornographic websites and social media platforms. And […]
How One Simple List is Changing the Face of American Theatre
According to a recent study, only 22 percent of plays produced in the United States are written by women. That means, if life worked like theatre, 4 out 5 things you ever heard would be said by men. But a Los Angeles-based gang of badass women playwrights and theatre makers are attempting to rewrite this narrative. […]
Why A Cappella Groups Across the Country Are Singing for Rape Survivors
On the heels of Lady Gaga’s stirring performance of “Til It Happens To You” at this year’s Academy Awards, the filmmakers behind The Hunting Ground, for which the song was written, are calling on college-student singers nationwide to help raise awareness about the country’s campus rape crisis. Til It Happens To You: Sing For Survivors Contest invites college a cappella groups to submit a rendition […]
If You Love Queer Feminist Films by Women of Color, Watch This Movie
If you’re like me, the #OscarsSoWhite and #OscarsSoStraight controversies surrounding this year’s Academy Awards—Hollywood’s self-congratulatory pat on the back for making zero progress toward creating a more inclusive industry and more opportunities for women, particularly women of color—left a rancid taste in your mouth. But fear not, feminist cinephiles! This month marks the 20th anniversary of The Watermelon […]
Think Mormons Can’t Be Feminists? These Women Will Prove You Wrong
A new documentary short is pushing open the doors of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to reveal the Mormon feminists driving a grassroots movement to integrate women into the church’s all-male priesthood. Where We Stand, from filmmaker Kristine Stolakis, offers a powerful counterpoint to the notion that Mormonism and feminism are mutually exclusive. Though Stolakis herself is […]
Women in Congress Reignite the Fight for the Equal Rights Amendment
Several U.S. Congresswomen, including Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), kicked off Women’s History Month last week with a special House session dedicated to renewing Congressional interest in passing the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and underscoring the importance of its ratification by states nationwide. Taking advantage of a congressional practice that allows members to speak on any topic […]
Clothing Retailer Lands’ End Caves to Anti-Abortion Bullies
On Wednesday, Wisconsin-based clothing retailer Lands’ End issued an apology for featuring a profile of Ms. cofounder Gloria Steinem in its Legend Series, after anti-abortion customers flooded the company’s Facebook page with angry comments and threats of a widespread boycott. Appearing as an insert in its print catalogue and referenced heavily on the company’s website and social media pages, […]