WMC News & Features
May 23, 2018 | Aviva Stahl |
Gender-based violence
Yet another woman accuses R. Kelly of assault
Adding to a long string of accusations stretching back decades, yet another woman has come forward with claims against R&B singer R. Kelly, alleging that he coerced her into sex, mentally and physically abused her, and deliberately infected her with herpes.
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May 16, 2018 | Lauren Davidson |
Arts and culture,
Media
Janelle Monáe, ‘Dirty Computer,’ and exploring social deviance
Monáe’s new album navigates the myriad emotions involved in being socially deviant and outcast for that deviance.
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An interview with Brazilian indigenous rapper and activist Kunumí MC
Kunumí MC is a teenage rapper calling attention to the struggles Indigenous people face in Brazil.
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The allegations against Melanie Martinez ask us to re-examine rape culture
Those accused of misconduct, assault, and harassment have ranged from small actors to big-shot producers, but almost all were male. Almost, but not all: female singer Timothy Heller recently accused alternative pop singer Melanie Martinez of assaulting her.
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July 02, 2017 | Gabby Catalano |
Arts and culture
Examining The Gender Imbalance At Music Festivals
It was 2014 and I was getting ready to soak up the sun and enjoy an alternative rock music festival in Boston. As I browsed the lineup—which included big names like Bleachers, Twenty One Pilots,...
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What Rihanna Revealed About Humanitarian Work
On February 28, 2017, Rihanna walked up the creaky wooden steps of one of Cambridge’s storied halls to accept the Harvard Foundation’s 2017 Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian of the Year Award. While she is ...
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The Underlying Sexism of Playing An Instrument
I was the textbook definition of an awkward twelve-year-old. I had braces, wild frizzy hair, and tended to match my eyeshadow to the color of any one my assorted array of graphic tees. This was only m...
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My Quest To Make Lady Diana Into A Feminist Monument
We’re all familiar with equestrian statuary, or the full-sized equestrian statues that commemorate historic figures – most frequently emperors, rulers, or military commanders. These statues have exist...
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The Exploitation Of Women Of Color In Music Videos Needs To End
As a black feminist who is usually conscious of how normalized our misogynistic and often racist pop culture is, I am mostly displeased by the portrayal of black women in music videos. From Taylor Swi...
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December 04, 2016 | Kayleigh Bolingbroke |
Arts and culture,
Feminism,
Media,
Race/Ethnicity,
Science and tech
This New Music Video Powerfully Took On Police Brutality
In 2012, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. He was later acquitted of the crime. Two years later, Eric Garner was killed after being placed in a chok...
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The Crucial Lessons Solange Teaches In 'A Seat At The Table'
2016 was Beyoncé's year. Her album Lemonade is inarguably one of the most profound cultural expressions of black femininity produced this year (and, let’s be honest, ever). Her thought-provoking lyric...
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How A Nicki Minaj Concert Was A Little Like The New African American History Museum
Two incredibly breathtaking, incredibly black things happened to me a few weeks ago. First, I attended the TidalX1015 concert benefiting the Robin Hood Foundation. Then, I visited the newly inaugurate...
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September 20, 2016 | Gabby Catalano |
Body image and body standards,
Feminism,
Media,
Misogyny,
Race/Ethnicity
We Need To Stop Sexualizing And Policing Women Who Have Curvy Bodies
Patrice Brown, a fourth-grade teacher in Atlanta who is known for being at the center of the hashtag #TeacherBae, is being criticized in the media — not for her body of work, but rather her body at wo...
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Meet The Teen Artist Tackling Everyday Sexism In Her Work
19-year-old Röra Blue first caught the Internet’s attention with her jarringly honest photo series, “The Unsent Project.” The project, which has already accumulated thousands of submissions, is a coll...
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The Empty Page Talks Indie Rock Feminism
The Manchester hard rock trio, The Empty Page, is breaking every rule in the industry. Led by bassist and lead singer Kel, lead guitarist Giz, and drummer Jim, the band is bringing feminism to a scene...
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Being A Swifty Who Rejects White Feminism
Hi, my name is Karla, and I have been a die hard Swifty for as long as I can remember. I pre-ordered all of Swift's albums, We Are Never, Ever Getting Back Together was one of my favorite shower songs...
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Does Fergie’s “M.I.L.F. $” Music Video Have A Feminist Message?
The first time I heard Fergie's "M.I.L.F. $," I genuinely thought it was a joke.
"Wow, Fergie’s just desperately trying to stay relevant," my friend declared. I laughed in agreement. The song's blata...
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On The Ground: Interviews With Young Feminist Activists
Welcome to "On the Ground," a new interview series that highlights the work young feminist activists are doing in their own communities.“Before my sophomore year at Andover, I didn’t even know what th...
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The Problem With Gossiping About Beyoncé and 'Lemonade'
We are now almost two months into the post-Lemonade universe, and it still seems the biggest public conversation the album has inspired is a debate about the true identity of "Becky with the good hair...
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Is A Digital Tool The Key To Addressing Campus Sexual Assault?
The stark reality of the high rate of sexual assault on college campuses is nothing new, and neither is college administrations’ resistance to addressing it. Far too many students continue to seek sup...
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We Need To Address The Music Industry's Gender Gap
"I’m tired of men who aren’t professional or even accomplished musicians continually offering to ‘help me out’ (without being asked), as if I did this by accident and I'm gonna flounder without them,"...
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What Kesha's Sexual Assault Case Reveals About The Trauma of Shame
In 2014, Kesha sued her producer, Dr. Luke, for allegedly sexual assaulting her. More specifically, she sued for freedom from a contract that bound her to only producing music with her assailant. Her ...
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Why 'Formation' Is The Most Important Cultural Event of 2016
As one of the most beloved performers in the world, the release of any new Beyoncé song would have been cause for widespread celebration. But the recent release of "Formation" was something else entir...
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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...
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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...