You Should Call House Members ‘Representatives,’ Because That’s What They Are—Not ‘Congressmen’ or ‘Congresswomen’

For most of the nation’s history, members of the U.S. House of Representatives have been addressed as “Congressman” or “Congresswoman.” By contrast, a senator is referred to as, well, “Senator.” These gendered terms for House members dominate in journalism, everyday conversation and among members of Congress.

“Whereas ‘congressman’ or ‘congresswoman’ tends to call our attention to a House member’s Capitol Hill activities and to his or her relationship with colleagues,” wrote the late Richard Fenno, “‘representative’ points us toward a House member’s activities in his or her home district and to relationships with constituents.”

In This Debate, a Woman Was the ‘Bigger Man’

If there was any doubt that a woman could lead this country, it was put to rest last night. From the moment she crossed the stage and reached out her hand to greet Donald Trump, Kamala Harris dominated the presidential debate on substance, style and seriousness.

Like the prosecutor she used to be, the vice president made her case sharply and cleanly, identifying and exploiting Trump’s weaknesses. In doing so, she effectively undercut her opponent’s longtime strategy of snidely attacking, denigrating and even looming over women in debates.

She Said, He Said: Your Fast Feminist Guide to the Harris-Trump Debate

Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris had their first and only debate on Tuesday night in Philadelphia. According to CNN, Trump spoke for about 42 minutes and 52 seconds, while Harris spoke for 37 minutes and 36 seconds. Trump spoke 39 times to Harris’ 23 times.

Here’s what each candidate said on some of the issues feminists care about—including access to abortion and other reproductive healthcare, the Affordable Care Act, childcare, immigration, racial unity and the economy.

Misogynist Manifesto: Fighting Project 2025’s Plans to Dismantle Democracy as We Know It

The final installment of a three-part series about the 900-plus-page right-wing “misogynistic manifesto”:

Project 2025 is a sinister plan to replace nonpartisan civil servants who enforce laws guaranteeing women’s rights, with trained ideologues determined to undermine these rights.

(This article originally appears in the Fall 2024 issue of Ms. Join the Ms. community today and you’ll get issues delivered straight to your mailbox!)

New Yorkers Can Vote ‘to Protect Abortion and Reproductive Freedom’ Through an ERA Ballot Measure

This November, voters in New York state will have the chance to weigh in on Proposal 1, the first U.S. constitutional amendment of its kind, which will establish comprehensive safeguards against discrimination and explicitly protect reproductive rights, including the right to abortion for state residents. According to New Yorkers for Equal Rights (NYER), a broad coalition of more than 300 diverse groups that support the initiative, the effort is different from other equal rights amendments because it includes protections for reproductive rights.

NYER campaign director Sasha N. Ahuja spoke to Ms. two months before Election Day: “We have to set the path for other states to pursue equality and provide the strongest possible protections in their constitutions.”

The Sonya Massey Case Was a Microcosm of Systemic Failures and Mistrust in Law Enforcement

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The tragic shooting of Sonya Massey underscored profound systemic issues within law enforcement—especially police conduct and excessive force when it comes to Black women.

Massey, a Black woman with a known mental health condition, was shot and killed by a deputy from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in Springfield, Ill. This incident has intensified scrutiny of racial bias, inadequate mental health crisis responses and the erosion of trust between marginalized communities and police. 

Misogynist Manifesto: Project 2025’s Plans to Gut Women’s Rights in the Workplace and Classroom

Part two of a three-part series about the 900-plus-page right-wing “misogynistic manifesto”:

Project 2025 eviscerates women’s long-held rights to sex equality in the workplace. Its plans for women students and workers would devastate their educational opportunities, harming their careers and earning power. 

(This article originally appears in the Fall 2024 issue of Ms. Join the Ms. community today and you’ll get issues delivered straight to your mailbox!)

‘It Ends With Us’ Promos Treated the Audience the Way Ryle Treated Lily: With Gaslighting and Deception

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The promotional campaign for It Ends With Us, the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, was so off-balance it became harmful. What should have been an opportunity to raise awareness about the complex and painful reality of domestic violence instead turned into a misguided showcase that trivialized survivors.

The Beauty of Being ‘Young and Dumb’: A Review of ‘My Old Ass’

My Old Ass
starts like a classic teen comedy but resolves with a more poignant message about growing up—no matter what age you are.

In many ways, this story seems a familiar one about discovering oneself and falling in love. Yet the film resists a traditionally simplistic message about sexuality, gender and love—and in doing so, My Old Ass is a refreshing new take on the genre.