WMC FBomb
February 25, 2016 | Olivia D |
Feminism,
Violence against women
Why We Need A More Complex Understanding Of Who Can Be An Abuser
I’ve never had a true "best friend." Don’t get me wrong, I had female friends in high school. I admired and cared about all of my teammates on my cross-country team and considered my Girl Scout troop ...
WMC Women Under Siege
'An amorous lump of flesh': Female genital mutilation continues in an unexpected country
A middle-aged woman, her face not shown, her hands painted with henna, is talking about “haraam ki boti,” Hindi for “an amorous lump of flesh.” She is referring to the clitoris in female genitalia that a number of cultures around the world believe must be cut to control or tame sexual desire in women.
WMC FBomb
These Eating Disorder Activists Shared Incredible Advice About Recovery
20 million women and 10 million men in the United States will struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their life. Our culture has come a long way in terms of demanding that the public pay at...
WMC FBomb
This Is How "Misogynoir" Affects Black Campus Sexual Assault Survivors
The term "misogynoir" — a fusion of the words misogyny and “noir,” the French word for black — was coined by the queer, black feminist Moya Bailey in 2010 and refers to the intersection of sexism and ...
WMC FBomb
The Real Reason Women Are Still Underrepresented In Leadership
My friend Sasha, a STEM major, is constantly asked what it's like to be "a girl in science." Her mother, who has had a successful and illustrious career in medicine, understands her daughter's struggl...
WMC Women Under Siege
Simple innovation keeps girls in school, away from child marriage, in DRC
The mountains of Itombwe are home to some of the rare gorillas of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. An area about the size of Rwanda and Burundi put together, the Itombwe Plateau is one of the poorest parts of one of the poorest countries in the world. It is also home to 23,785 adolescent girls, according to Maman Shujaa, a women’s empowerment organization based in the South Kivu capital of Bukavu.
WMC FBomb
How I Am Trying To Overcome A White Feminist Mindset
As a straight, upper middle class, private school educated, white teenage girl, my first understanding of feminism was undeniably "white feminism." This type of feminism is one that fails to address i...
WMC FBomb
Are Diverse Barbies Really Progress?
I played with Barbies a lot as a little girl. I remember looking at the nude body of one plastic, blonde doll and marveling at her wrinkle-free knees, being baffled by her hard breasts, and wishing my...
WMC FBomb
What Kesha’s Legal Win Means for Survivors of Sexual Assault
We undeniably still live in a twisted, victim blaming rape culture. Women are shamed and doubted when they seek justice for their assaults and taught they must prevent their assault in the first place...
WMC News & Features
Pregnant women and drug use: Media reinforces stigma and stereotypes
Sensationalist news coverage of pregnant women’s use of opioids is fueling calls for more punitive drug policies and an erosion of reproductive rights.
WMC FBomb
Why Beyoncé's "Formation" Video Is So Important
This past Saturday, Beyoncé released the first new song from her upcoming album, entitled "Formation." The song, and accompanying video, may be the most important works the star has released. If her 2...
WMC FBomb
February 06, 2016 | Siena R |
Body image and body standards,
Disability,
Feminism,
Health,
WMC Loreen Arbus Journalism Program
This Is What It's Really Like To Recover From An Eating Disorder
I have anorexia. My first instinct was to at least shield you, random stranger on the Internet, from that truth, to ease you in. But there's no way to put that gently. That's not my reality. My realit...
WMC FBomb
February 04, 2016 | Liz L |
Arts and culture,
Media
How Grimes Is Daring Music Critics to Dismantle Hierarchies in Pop Music
When I met Grimes — the project of DIY musician, writer, performer, and producer Claire Boucher — after her recent Nashville concert, our first exchange was one of unabashed praise. “Your voice," she...
WMC FBomb
These Are The LGBTQ+ Victories Already Achieved In 2016
2015 was undoubtedly an amazing year for progress in the LGBTQ+ community. Several countries legalized same-sex marriage, including the United States, and others extended adoption rights to same-sex c...
WMC FBomb
Why We Need To Teach Students About Rape Culture
Being an outspoken feminist in my high school has been a challenging experience. While many of my peers are aware of major social justice news and violations, like that surrounding Black Lives Matters...
WMC Women Under Siege
January 29, 2016 | Lauren Wolfe |
Disability,
Violence against women,
WMC Loreen Arbus Journalism Program
Congo’s invisible, third-class citizens find solidarity
There’s a darkish room, maybe 12 feet by 13 feet, tucked into the back area of the ground floor of a school called Lycée Wima. Seated along walls of peeling paint are more than a dozen women sewing patterned bags, shoes, dresses, and dolls on elegant Singer sewing machines from the time between the last world wars. The work is exacting.
WMC FBomb
It's Time To Stop Excusing Sexism As A "Joke."
Mel McLaughlin, a well-known and respected Australian sports commentator, was recently tasked with conducting a post-match interview with cricketer Chris Gayle. The reporter asked professional, though...
WMC News & Features
Still too few women behind the scenes in Hollywood
According to the author of the annual Celluloid Ceiling study, there has been more talk, but precious little action to increase numbers of women in behind-the-scenes roles in Hollywood.
WMC FBomb
January 26, 2016 | Saskia G |
Feminism,
Violence against women
Women in the Military Are Now Allowed to Step Up
On December 3rd, the U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter made a game-changing announcement for women in the military. All active combat roles, he proclaimed, would become open to women. They can now ...
WMC FBomb
The Facts Every Young Woman Needs To Know About Medication Abortion
On Friday, women across the country commemorated the 43rd anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States. Many noted that despite this legi...
WMC FBomb
January 21, 2016 | Jo E |
Arts and culture,
Feminism
Bisexuality Isn't Real, My Ass.
Somehow she ended up sitting next to me on the couch as the five of us snuggled. Three of us ended up on the L shaped couch, the other two on the floor. And there she was. Next to me, sitting back aft...
WMC News & Features
Sexist school dress codes can be changed
How one middle school’s students and administrators worked together to create a gender-neutral dress code.
WMC FBomb
5 Tips For New Feminist Bloggers of Color
I became a feminist at 16 years old. At the time, the word "feminist" wasn't nearly as popular as it is today. In fact, I vividly remember trying to explain sexism and gender inequality to my high sch...
WMC FBomb
The Hypersexualization of Female News Broadcasters Proves Sexism Is Alive and Well
If you google “Fox News female anchors,” the first few results that pop up include, "Top Ten Hottest Fox News Girls," "Sexy Fox News Anchor Suffers HUMILIATING Wardrobe Malfunction," "19 Sexiest Women...
WMC Women Under Siege
When the unspeakable happens but no one listens: A repressed story of rape in Manipur
Effects of a conflict linger differently on different people. The following excerpt from my book, Mother, Where’s My Country?, is a story of struggle, loss, lack of closure, and denial of memory and justice. The book and excerpt are set in the northeast Indian state of Manipur, a gritty landscape.