An excerpt from “Tomboy: The Surprising History and Future of Girls Who Dare to Be Different” (August 2020), by Linda Selin Davis:
“When each tomboy heyday ended, childhood became gendered as never before.”
Tag: Media
Oshun Energy in Beyoncé’s “Black is King”
We are certainly entering a new era when Beyoncé, our most celebrated Black pop star, can access a dominant worldwide corporation like Disney—responsible for some of the most troubling anti-Black representations for nearly a century—and utilize its platform to correct our image and offer us a grand, divine mirror to see ourselves anew. “Black is King” is Oshun’s mirror by way of Beyoncé’s artistic vision.
Ms. Summer 2019 Cover Wins an ASME Readers’ Choice Award
Every cover entered in the ASME Best Cover Contest was posted on Facebook, where readers voted by liking the covers from over 200 magazines. Ms. readers showed up, commenting and sharing the Ms. cover widely across their social media platforms. The passion and support of our readers resulted in a win for Ms.!
Filipino Journalist Maria Ressa Arrested in Overt Attempt to Crush Press Freedom
Award-winning journalist Maria Ressa was found guilty of “cyber libel” for investigating President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines, who has continuously suppressed press freedom and has been responsible for countless human right violations. Journalism is under major fire in the Philippines, and Ressa has been persecuted for denouncing an administration that egregiously disregards basic human rights.
Ressa said: “I’m being set up as an example so that others will stop asking tough questions, and I think that puts responsibility on me to continue asking tough questions.”
Abortion Media Coverage Is “Deeply, and Problematically, Politicized” Says Study
A woman’s right to choose is under siege—which is why it is important to critically examine how the media covers it. A new report from NARAL Pro-Choice America and Global Strategy Group (GSG) found most abortion coverage in mainstream media to be “deeply, and problematically, politicized.”
Tools of the Patriarchy: The Weaponization of Hair
From abortion to weight loss, the patriarchal tradition of policing women’s bodies is a strong and long lasting one. Telling women what they must or must not do with their hair—whether that be the color, texture, quantity or location of it—is just another way women’s agency over their own bodies is controlled.
Black Artists Challenge Hollywood: “Prove Black Lives Matter”
The entertainment industry needs to use its power and unique position to radically change the oppressive, systemic and white supremacist culture that persists in Hollywood.
Feminist Lens: Cheryl L. Bedford’s Vision for a Diverse and Inclusive Hollywood
Founder of the largest—and one of the only—diversity and inclusion initiatives focused exclusively on women of color in the film and television industry, Cheryl L. Bedford sees no use in maintaining the status quo.
“I used to say that women of color need to work twice as hard to be considered half as good; that’s what I was told as I was growing up. Now, I say that women of color should be able to be like mediocre white men and still get hired.”
Feminist Faves: Netflix Shows to Binge this Summer (Drama)
Seeking catharsis through gripping, unconventional dramas? There are plenty of shows featuring compelling feminist characters streaming on Netflix to carry you through the coming months.
We Heart: The “Mrs. Files” and Women’s Right to Their Own Names
How many women and feminist trailblazers have been historically called by their partners’ names—boiling them down to the mere “Mrs.” version of their husbands?
The answer: a lot.