Having just completed an incredibly challenging year abroad, I decided I needed a change. Something radical. So why not chop off all of my hair? It would the perfect symbol of growth, accomplishment, and moving on, I thought. Which was totally valid. But I’m glad I didn’t go through with it. See, what I was… Continue Reading →
Four reasons you should be in love with Orphan Black
Clones. Religious cults. Corporate science. Oh, and feminism. As odd as it may sound, all of these elements can be found in the TV series Orphan Black. The show, which just began its third season in April, follows Sarah Manning (played by Tatiana Maslany) as she discovers she is one of many clones. The series… Continue Reading →
Everything that’s wrong with the Dad Bod trend
You have got to be kidding me with this Dad Bod business. As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, a recent piece by Mackenzie Pearson (who’s a student at Clemson University in South Carolina) outlines how and why women now prefer a slight paunch over a six pack when it comes to men’s appearance. Her… Continue Reading →
Why Danielle Brooks’ essay is so important to the body image conversation
Actress Danielle Brooks is making waves in Hollywood. Best known for her role as Tasha “Tastee” Jefferson on the Netflix series Orange is the New Black, Brooks is now enjoying a level of professional success that few actors get to experience. And she recently revealed that she’s enjoying another kind of success, one that is… Continue Reading →
Harriet Tubman on the new $20 bill?
What would the United States be like if we had Harriet Tubman on our $20 bills? Depicted on current and former US dollar banknotes are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Alexander Hamilton, Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Franklin, William McKinley, and Grover Cleveland. Yes, they are all men. And yes, all white men…. Continue Reading →
Living in a manic pixie dream world
She wears floral skater dresses. She rocks oxfords and grandad socks. She’s unbelievably quirky, ebullient, and has a tendency towards petty theft. She is a manic pixie dream girl. First coined by Nathan Rabin in his review of Elizabethtown to describe the bubbly flight attendant portrayed by Kirsten Dunst, the manic pixie dream girl (MPDG)… Continue Reading →
Tina Fey and the bare truth (about shapewear)
The other night, actress/comedian Tina Fey stripped down to her underwear on The Late Show with David Letterman. Ostensibly, it was to “honor” the talk show host ahead of his imminent retirement. But what Fey really did was show the whole world just what it takes for some women to wear a form-fitting dress and… Continue Reading →
A Mother’s Day message for all the moms (and pseudo-moms) from About-Face
Thank you to all the About-Face moms dedicated to helping their children build healthy self-esteem! Happy Mother’s Day! Here are some resources for parents and other adults to give teenagers the tools they need to understand and resist media: Check out our list of resources and organizations that support positive body image, high self-esteem, and empowerment…. Continue Reading →
My wish for Mother’s Day: A break from the sexism aimed at my kids
I’m raising two boys, and it is exhausting — but not for the reasons you might expect. It’s not because they’re “gross” or “loud” or “stinky” or “roughhousing” all the time. All kids can be those things at any given moment. What is truly exhausting is always running into sexism and violence in toys, TV… Continue Reading →