Writing a Woman: The Minefield of Breaking Down Gendered Stereotypes in Media

Women have been featured in entertainment media for centuries. When it comes to storytelling, I would be hard-pressed to find a story that didn’t feature women in some way.  However, in an age where representation is critical in the fight for equality, the problem does not lie in the amount of representation, but in the …

The First, But Not the Last: Kamala Harris is Breaking the Glass Ceiling

The first woman. The first Black woman. The first Asian woman. Every single person to hold the office of Vice President of the United States of America has been a white male—until now. On January 20th, 2021, Kamala Harris will shatter this glass ceiling by becoming the first African-American and Asian-American woman to step into …

Making a List and Checking it Twice: Tips for Managing Women’s Holiday Stress

I was recently watching one of my favorite holiday movies, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and I was struck by a scene that I had overlooked in years past. In this scene Betty Lou Who cries out from the top of her roof while stringing her elaborate Christmas lights, “I can feel it Lou. This …

Mrs., Miss., or Ms.?: How Honorifics Can Reveal Marital Status Even When Women Don’t Want Them To

A simple honorific is often overlooked; many women would not second-guess checking a box that says Ms., Miss., or Mrs. when filling out a form or an application. [1] From forms at the doctor's office, to credit card applications, and even library cards, the little box asking a woman what title to call her is …

The Importance of Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

While I was in college, one of my entrepreneurship professors gave each student a face-down article and told us to read it. Once we flipped it over, we realized that the article was about funding NEXTGEN JANE, a women’s healthcare company that sold tampon products. The room was shocked to silence about a male professor …

Doctrine vs. Culture: Sources of Sexism in Islam

In 2008, an eighteen-year-old Pakistani woman was gang raped by three men. Despite DNA evidence identifying the men as guilty, they were not convicted.  How could this happen? What could possibly justify this injustice? As I continued reading an article on this report, I was mortified to learn that it was doctrine from the victim’s …

Cultural Misconceptions and the Fight Against Honor Killings

In July, Ahlem was murdered by her father outside her family home in Amman, Jordan.  Witnesses saw her run into the street, bleeding from the neck and screaming, followed quickly by her father.  He then threw a concrete brick at her head, killing her instantly.  Witnesses claim that the woman’s father then sat by her …

Disparities in Female Access to Sports

Cheering crowds and matching uniforms, Friday night lights and rain drenched fields, cleats and knee pads, balls and rackets: these are all stereotypical elements of sports that some women will not experience. The gender gap in sports, although shrinking, continues to endure due to a variety of causes, including religion, laws, and the sexualization of …

Cybersecurity Needs More Women

What do you think of when you think of October? Most likely it's candy, monsters, ghosts, and haunted houses. But what about cyber awareness? In 2004, the Department of Homeland Security designated October as “National Cyber Security Awareness Month” in an attempt to encourage Americans to protect themselves and their identities online.[1] And, while perhaps …

Closing the “Boyfriend Loophole”: Bipartisan Solutions to Renewing the Violence Against Women Act

Most of us know someone that has been a victim of domestic violence. Statistically, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men have experienced and reported violence by an intimate partner in their lifetimes.[1] One of the key pieces of legislation that addresses domestic violence is the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which has …