Making the point that people with jobs in journalism have no business speculating about the truthfulness of rape allegations is well worth losing some steady work over.
rape
media
I was contacted by a reporter who said how she had been "enjoying" my pieces in xoJane and wanted to profile me. That's how it started.
media
If something exists digitally, I have probably at least tried to obtain it illegally.
school shootings
I don't think I'm much better than other media tragedy merchants. But at least I'm not sending out PR pitches inspired by the Connecticut shooting today. Let's discuss.
sexism
In a world where sexism is always satirical and satire is always sacred, hipster sexism becomes nearly impossible to challenge. It’s not only okay, but appropriate and even necessary, to incorporate other work people have produced on the subject into your own discussions.
fat
Using health as a smokescreen allows people to attack fat kids while looking virtuous.
house of cards
There was no actual course called "Faustian Bargains 101" at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism. So I improvised.
ella henderson
I remember, as a teenager, having a disagreement with a friend of mine when I wouldn’t call myself a feminist because I said that it implied that I hated men and I was terrified of being seen as anything other than a desirable, sexual being who just loved guys.
page six
It’s hard to call celebrities out on their faults when you are barely functioning yourself, but that’s exactly what I did.
media
Suddenly, last week, the media exploded with claims that there had been a massive coverup and the Gosnell story wasn’t being covered by mainstream media.
domestic violence
Whatever Steenkamp endured in their relationship before her death was quietly shoved under the carpet, and no one talked about it; just like no one talks about domestic violence in any cases involving “heroes.”
dove ads
In other words, yes, Shirley, blind people really ARE just like you.
sexual assault
If I never see the words "seduced," "had sex with," "affair," "forced her to have sex," and so on in a headline about a rape case again, it will be too soon.
branding
Don't read what they say about you. Count the column inches. Cuba Gooding Jr. told me that once. SHOW ME THE MONEY!
media
“Can You Smell Obesity?” “Obesity Has A Smell” “Is That Obesity Smell On Your Breath?” “Obesity Has A Scent” “Apparently You Can Smell Obesity”
black women
Commentator Zerlina Maxwell did a brave thing this weekend. She went on Fox News, not exactly a bastion of human rights commentary, and said that if we want to stop rape, we need to educate men on the subject, rather than putting the responsibility on women.
politics
I wasn’t aware that Glenn Beck was the current head of the "Who’s a real man?” club, but evidently he is, and he used the power vested in him to strip President Obama of his man privileges.
s.e. smith in
Issues,
politics,
sports,
brain injury,
transphobia,
media,
barack obama,
Glenn Beck,
seriously just stop talking now
Feb 5, 2013 at 3:30pm | 46 comments
racism
For those just tuning in, yes, it is offensive to compare a woman to a piece of meat, or to meat in general.
pop culture
A question I get asked a lot as someone who talks about pop culture from the perspective of a critic who roots my work in social issues, namely: does pop culture (and television in particular) have a responsibility to educate the audience?
media
If you came here for an outraged rant on the most offensive, the most sexist, the most ridiculous, the most appalling of the Super Bowl ads, you came to the wrong place.
domestic violence
When you quote at length the abuser’s friend’s “side” of the incident, talk about the victim’s college transcripts, or her employment record, you are participating in some good old-fashioned victim blaming.
rape
The tensions over whether the victim’s name should be revealed, both in India and beyond, highlight ongoing debates about privacy for victims, especially in the wake of a death, when victims can’t speak for themselves.
