Part of “Turning 50“—an exploration of women in hip-hop and their role in the feminist movement—here are 10 notable songs and five momentous albums from the last five decades, with in-text explainers from editor Janell Hobson.
Tag: Media
Feminism and Freedom in Ghana: The Ms. Q&A With Nana Akosua Hanson
Nana Akosua Hanson, feminist activist, journalist and founder of Let’s Talk Consent, discusses her vision for a feminist future, the importance of art and media, and activism.
“I’m an African feminist who believes deeply in the power of art and artistic expression in changing the world.”
In Praise of Badass Super Mamas (Summer 2008)
From the Summer 2008 issue of Ms. magazine:
The summer of 1973 was the season of the supermama: kickass Black women such as Pam Grier and Tamara Dobson, who starred in big-screen “Blaxploitation” action films.
The cultural nostalgia for Blaxploitation has never really died. And at the movies in recent years, Black women continue to be underrepresented among the latest kick-butt heroes. Yet my hope for new supermamas survives. The screen and action cinema not only have room for Black women—but need them.
(For more iconic, ground-breaking stories like this, pre-order
50 YEARS OF Ms.: THE BEST OF THE PATHFINDING MAGAZINE THAT IGNITED A REVOLUTION (Alfred A. Knopf)—a collection of the most audacious, norm-breaking coverage Ms. has published.)
Ms. Global: Drought in Somalia; Afghan Women Face More Restrictions; Burundi Sees Spike in Femicides; the Crackdown on Egypt’s Queer Community
The U.S. ranks as the 19th most dangerous country for women, 11th in maternal mortality, 30th in closing the gender pay gap, 75th in women’s political representation, and painfully lacks paid family leave and equal access to health care. But Ms. has always understood: Feminist movements around the world hold answers to some of the U.S.’s most intractable problems. Ms. Global is taking note of feminists worldwide.
This week: News from Somalia, Afghanistan, Burundi, Egypt, Germany, and more.
Defamation Lawsuits Are a Growing Way to Silence Victims—From Kesha to Amber Heard
The long awaited defamation trial between Lukasz Gottwald and pop star Kesha has been given a July trial date after almost 10 years. In the wake of the Depp-Heard case, we cannot let another woman’s trauma be mocked and meme-ified across the internet.
How Ukrainian Women Are Working to Safeguard Human Rights in the Face of War
A new documentary film entitled Oh, Sister! features the stories of six Ukrainian women who are facing the challenges of the ongoing Russian invasion, and fighting for peace, justice and freedom in their country.
After Rihanna’s Halftime Reveal, It’s Time to Talk About the Ridiculous Pressure on Celebrity-Mothers
Rihanna got out there and performed with one baby and another on the way. She did it on her own, without any other big-name performers. The message was clear: I’m enough.
Like Prince Harry, Survivors of Family Sexual Assault Know What It’s Like to Cope With Family After Public Truth-Telling
In his new book Spare, Prince Harry outlines the trauma he experienced as a child after Princess Diana’s death, as well as the whitewashing and abuse he and his wife, Meghan Markle, suffered at the hands of both the press and his royal family. As a survivor of sexual violence, I recognize Harry’s plight and also the incredibly painful journey of losing relatives because of truth-telling in an effort to be whole again.
How Johnny Depp Turned Abuse Allegations Into a Comeback
By 2018, Johnny Depp was bordering on irrelevancy—but he soon gained a tremendous fandom as a public trial unfolded, prompted by abuse allegations from his ex-wife Amber Heard. In December, Heard announced she would no longer be moving forward with her appeal because “cannot afford to risk an impossible bill—one that is not just financial, but also psychological, physical and emotional.”
Depp has paved a new path for accused men in search of cultural capital—and accomplished the very thing women throughout the ages have been baselessly accused of: leveraging victimhood to gain status. Depp, whose career was flailing, became not just a rallying cry for men’s rights and the supposed victimhood of being a successful, wealthy, white man in a changing world, but a newly hot commodity in Hollywood once again with a thriving fan base.
I’m Sounding the Alarm Now About Media’s Response to Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show
The Super Bowl Halftime Show is a time-honored but impossible set-up. Women artists have experienced especially harsh post-show takes. So what will it be in Rihanna’s case?
There’s a tremendous amount of pressure on her performance post-baby, her first live appearance since 2018. The gendered expectations and sexist labeling of women in music vary by individual, and racism has a significant impact in certain cases. But this abuse in all cases works to enforce norms of behavior expected of women.
Perhaps if we recognize the cycle, we might better tune out the toxic takes to come.