Trigger warning: Discusses trauma, suicide, sexual assault, child abuse Dismissing people who suffer emotional distress or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as “insane” or “too sensitive” is definitely not a new phenomenon. Not that long ago, people with certain psychological symptoms were dismissed as having “hysteria” or “shell shock.” And calling someone “crazy” for expressing their […]
Author: Ponta Abadi
Ponta Abadi, a graduate of the University of Oregon, is a former Ms. intern. Follow her on Twitter.
Actually, About Half Of Gamers Are Women
Warning: Some links contain offensive language. If you watched the Microsoft Xbox One E3 press conference this past week, you may have noticed not a single featured game had a woman protagonist. If someone you know argues the reason for this is that game makers are simply reflecting a womanless market, we’re here to prove them wrong. […]
If Male Models Can Come In Different Sizes, Female Models Can, Too
Male underwear models are known to be dudes with chiseled abs, huge biceps, overdeveloped pecs and a bulging … well, you’ve seen the advertising. But recently, The New York Times reported that underwear companies are beginning to rethink what a male model should look like—the old stereotype may just be “too sexy” to appeal to the average, […]
Portland, Oregon Will Now Require Gender-Neutral Bathrooms
Great news from the best state in the country, Oregon! (It’s possible, as a homegirl, I’m a little biased.) Multnomah County, which includes Portland, just became one of the first in the country to require gender-neutral, single-occupancy restrooms in all future construction projects. The executive order, signed Tuesday morning by county board chair Jeff Cogen, was created […]
NEWSFLASH: Sen. Levin Weakens Military Sex Assault Bill
Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) announced on Tuesday he is replacing a measure proposed by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) that would have removed military sexual assault crimes from being handled within the military chain of command. Levin’s replacement measure would keep authority on major military crimes with senior officers. Gillibrand’s measure, part of a defense spending bill, was […]
The Women of Turkey Won’t Give Up Without A Fight
When tens of thousands in Turkey took to protesting the government, beginning at the end of May, the demographics were astonishing to many global observers: At least half of the protesters are women. What is it about Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government that has so many women fighting back? Sevi, a woman protestor who’s camping […]
Stop Fat-Shaming Kids (And Everyone Else, Too)
Childhood obesity is a problem we can’t ignore. Over the last 30 years, its rate in the U.S. has more than doubled, with about 1 in 3 children today considered overweight (meaning those with a body mass index at the 85th percentile or higher, according to the National Center for Health Statistics). These kids have a […]
Kids’ Toys: More Gendered Than Ever
Megan Perryman’s 5-year-old daughter was browsing toys in a store. She picked up a toy recorder and her expression quickly changed as if she had done something wrong. “Oh no,” she said. “I’ve got the boys’ one!” In her own childhood, Perryman didn’t feel limited to only playing with “girls’” toys. She says boys and […]
U.S. Teen Birth Rates At All-Time Low
This one’s a real shocker: As more teens use hormonal birth control and condoms, fewer have babies. A report just released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows teen birth rates dropped 25 percent in five years to a record-breaking low in 2011. The CDC has also reported that teens are waiting longer to have […]
NEWSFLASH: Boy Scouts To Accept Openly Gay Boys – But Not Gay Leaders
Today, the Boy Scouts of America’s National Council voted to allow openly gay Boy Scouts in their program—but openly gay adult leaders are still banned. The decision, supported by more than 60 percent of the council, is a step in the right direction, but still sends the wrong message about gay adults. The new policy […]