This article by Virgie Tovar originally appeared on Ravishly and has been republished with permission. A question that has been haunting me for well over a month now is one that was posed to me by an ultra cute, very smart fat girl. She asked me how I learned to give up on the dream of being a desirable, beautiful, sexy thin person. Her question seemed to unveil a worldview … [Read more...]
How Do We Make Online Feminism Less US-Centric?
"I learned a lesson at Sunday school," said my domestic partner-in-crime. "It said that God prevented our rise to power by making us speak different languages so we couldn't understand each other. Different languages aren't a blessing; they're a fucking punishment." He'd just got off the phone with Vodafone internet support in Berlin, our home of mere weeks. They didn't speak … [Read more...]
5 Ways Racist Fetishes Put Asian Women in Serious Danger
Originally posted in Everyday Feminism as 5 Ways "Asian Woman Fetishes" Put Asian Women in Serious Danger and republished with permission. Recently, a friend and I were talking about growing up Asian American in predominantly white neighborhoods and schools, and she told me that when she was in fifth grade, boys teased her on the playground by saying that she had a “sideways … [Read more...]
I’m a Non-Binary Feminist: How I Negotiate My Gender & Politics in the Workplace and Beyond
Transitioning Grief What does it mean to be a feminist ally? And, for me, what does it mean to be a feminist ally who was assigned-male-at-birth (amab), raised and socialized as a man for most of my life, but who now identifies as a non-binary transfemme? I began questioning my gender identity when I was 28 years old, and “came-out” when I was 30. Transitioning is a … [Read more...]
A Nonbinary Approach to Spiritual Activism: Jailbreaking the Goddess
Trying to discuss the intersection of spirituality and activism is a funny thing. Especially when you’ve been kind of distanced from both for a while. I had the pleasure of meeting Lasara in Los Angeles this past spring at a Jailbreaking the Goddess workshop at the Crystal Matrix store, during which she discussed some of the key points of her recent work. It was the kind of … [Read more...]
The Feminist Generation Gap: Is There Room for Feminism to Evolve?
In the thirty-plus years I’ve been alive, I’ve seen a number of connotations applied to feminism. Going to an all-girls school and then a women’s college, for most of my life “feminist” was a positive label. It promised us girls we could do anything the boys could do. It was the assertion that we young ladies would grow into women who would shape the world and have equal claim … [Read more...]
The Evolution of Femininity: Does Radical Self Love Mean I Have to Give Up My Lipstick?
On the journey of loving yourself well, it can be difficult to discern which conventions of society are helpful and which ones are harmful. There are many questions I’ve asked myself—especially as a feminist and as a woman. What are the true origins of my modesty? Can I be strong and still like the color pink? Am I offended when someone refers to me as a girl? How do I feel … [Read more...]
Who Can and Cannot Be Feminine Without Giving Up Their Safety?
Before being out as a transfeminine person, in order to maintain any sense of safety no matter how fragile, I was always expected to express my femininity only with certain restrictions. These restrictions changed depending on who I was with and where I was. This often made things not only confusing, but miserable. It was difficult to keep up with who I was supposed to … [Read more...]
Why Your ‘Not All Men’ Argument Is Just Sexist Hypocrisy
This article is published with permission and was originally published by EverydayFeminism.com. Are we making unfair generalizations about men when we talk about sexism? Considering the number of people who object with “not all men,” you might think so. But this objection actually reveals a sexist double standard. If you want to know the real reason why these dudes can’t … [Read more...]
6 Ways Our Fave TV Shows Uphold Gender Norms
As someone who wants to write for television one day, I spend days (binge) watching show after show, teaching myself how to create believable and intricate character development, story arcs, and nuanced narratives. I’ve seen hours worth of incredible and inspiring writing. But, more often than not, I’ve sat through a lot of bad writing. This is especially true when it comes to … [Read more...]
Why As a Man, I Need Feminism
Originally published on aymankuzbari.blogspot on November 2012, published with permission. "I am a feminist." This statement has caused several kinds of reactions when coming from me, a male. Ranging from an inquisitive if not suspicious "why?" to sweet praise borne not out of understanding, but rather out of amazement if not amusement. And yet the one reaction I've … [Read more...]
Most Popular Posts of 2015: Interlude
Before we arrive at our #1 most popular post in 2015, we would like to review some vital posts that we had the pleasure of publishing. They may not have made the top eleven posts, but we think that they were vital to creating a world of unapologetic radical self-love. Your Child Should Never Be Forced to Hug Anyone (Yes, Including a Relative) – Here Are 7 Reasons … [Read more...]
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