The First All-Female Surf Club Makes a Splash for Feminism in Sri Lanka
The disparities in women’s sports are a huge issue for feminists in the United States, with topics such as sexual abuse of athletes by coaches being brought to light by the #MeToo movement and Title IX being passed into law. But these issues are universal as well. Female athletes are often looked down upon for being too masculine. They challenge gender roles across the globe and prove you can be both strong and beautiful. In Sri
In Sexism’s Pocket: What’s Up With Women’s Pants?
Watching my girlfriend struggle to hold on to her phone while putting on her backpack, I didn’t hesitate to ask: “Why don’t you just put it in your pocket?” Needless to say, this kicked off a very educational discourse about pockets that didn’t end until she got on the bus home, phone still in hand. I was aware that this was a recurring theme in women’s clothing (full disclosure: I’m a cis guy), but I
Feticide And The Problem With Laws Protecting Fetal Personhood
Originally implemented to protect pregnant women, feticide laws become tricky when they are used as a way to criminalize these same women. By definition, fetal homicide is the act of killing an intrauterine fetus accidentally or purposefully, outside of the context of a legal abortion in accordance with state laws. Under feticide regulations, anyone who is thought to cause a fetus’ unnatural death within the womb, even if inadvertently, can be charged with murder. Since
The Importance of Intersectionality
The phrase ‘intersectional feminism’ seems to be everywhere these days. You see it in the news and on posts by activist accounts on social media and even in the Instagram bios of distant acquaintances. But why is this phrase gaining in popularity? What is it and what is it about this idea that draws so many people to it? The term ‘intersectionality’ was coined by feminist scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989. It represents an analytic
A Look At American Feminism in the Last 100 Years
It’s almost the end of Women’s History Month, and we indeed deserve a month celebrating the work women from ages ago that have paved the way for us, and the generations to come. From simply wearing bloomers to the #MeToo movement, the feminism comes in many forms. There are many events that have revolutionized women in society, but these events are some that define what feminism is for. June 4, 1919: Congress passes the 19th
Workshop on Women’s Studies Discusses Feminism, Hijab and Objectification of Women
Exploring themes as important in today’s world as feminism, the neo-liberal and radical kinds of it, capitalism and how it exploits women’s labor, a nine-day workshop was held in Qom, Iran at the University of Religions and Denominations. This program was organized by the international department of URD by the joint efforts of the Director General of the International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Mahdi Salehi and the Director of International Short Courses, Dr. Zahra Sharif.
Why Women’s Issues are Political Issues
Recently, I accepted a position as a committee chair for the honors newsletter at my university. We had our first meeting, and I found out that all of my writers are men. This did not intimidate me. In fact, it made me feel even more in charge than I’d already felt. I led the meeting and held the attention of my writers the entire time. It was empowering. However, as the meeting began to end
Remembering the Ladies Over 200 Years Later
President Trump’s State of the Union address touched on many issues, and resolved for a better relationship within the political parties in the government. Trump even spoke of the largest female body serving in Congress, which drew appreciation from everyone present. Yet, the reason of why women were suddenly running for office was not even mentioned. Spurred on by the #MeToo movement, by issues regarding immigration and race, these women joined Congress because they felt
Why This Women’s March Sign Means So Much to Women and Girls
The 2019 Women’s March was a controversial one. While the march was riddled with scandal, boycotts and accusations of antisemitism, there was one picture of a sign that caught the attention and stole the hearts of women all around the world. The viral photo features a man holding a sign with the phrase “She’s someone’s sister/mother/daughter/wife” crossed out so that only “She’s someone” remains. This simple gesture of crossing out the commonly used phrases of “she’s someone’s
What These Pakistanis Girls Wish To Do If They Were Boys For A Day Might Shock You
Some time ago in a poll on my Instagram story, I asked Pakistani girls from among my followers a simple question: what they would do if they were to be guys for 24 hours and why. The results did not shock me, and I could relate to almost all of the answers. One respondent from Rawalpindi, Rameen, said: “Get out of my house and walk around the neighborhood.” And that, very plainly, is the reality