Innholdsfortegnelse for The 2024 Gender Edition i The Goodnewspaper

HELLO HELLO! When I first started pursuing my journalism degree in college, I enrolled in a gender studies class as a way to get a few gen ed credits in a subject I was passionate about. I considered myself a feminist since early teenagehood and was completely sold on the idea of becoming “the next Gloria Steinem.” Or — well-known for both my writing and my passion for gender equality. I’d use my writing skills to make the world a better place! To elevate the voices of all women! So, you can imagine how exciting it is to be the managing editor at a grassroots publication that really cares about making the world a better place, only a handful of years after that first gender studies course. But that class…

According to the Cleveland Clinic’s eighth annual survey about men’s health, 83% of men have experienced stress in the last six months, while most are hesitant to seek professional help. Moreover, while the number of men getting a yearly checkup has increased to about 60%, about 61% of men said that when something is wrong, it has to become “unbearable” before they’ll see a doctor. And that’s why the Clinic’s “MENtion It” campaign came into existence nearly a decade ago: to address the fact that men do not mention their health issues — or take steps to prevent them. “Through the MENtion It campaign, we want to emphasize the significance of being proactive with your health by getting regular screenings, vaccinations and exams to prevent health issues or identify them…

When photographer Lindsay Morris’s son, Milo, was three, he began exhibiting “a passion for dolls and all things pink and sparkly,” which led him to feel isolated and alone at school. A frenzy of Google searches led Morris to discover a carefully vetted listserv of parents who discussed the challenges and triumphs of “raising gender-creative children.” Those online conversations led to Camp I Am, a celebratory annual long-weekend in a traditional summer camp setting for gender non-conforming youth to “run free.” Here, Morris used her photojournalism skills to document the euphoria these young campers found. Her work was published in a transformative 2012 story for New York Magazine: “What’s So Bad About a Boy Who Wants to Wear a Dress?” Camp I Am was discontinued in 2016, as campers aged…

In the 2,000-year lifespan of the Catholic church, voting bodies at the Vatican’s Synod of Bishops have been relegated to men: clerics, bishops, and cardinals. But in April 2023 — with Pope Francis’ blessing — women finally attained the right to vote in the advisory body for the church. Women’s Ordination Conference leader Kate McElwee called it a “significant crack in the stained glass ceiling ” and the long-awaited result of “sustained advocacy.” Past synods have allowed women to attend as non-voting “auditors,” but never as voting members. Historically, 10 priests have been selected by the Union of Superiors General to serve as representatives on the council. Under new changes, five sisters could join five priests in representing the Union. Additionally, female laypeople — or non-clergy members — were granted…

GOOD Watch “Knock Down the House,” a documentary on Netflix that follows three women political candidates as they embark on the journey of their careers. It’s sure to get you energized. BETTER Donate to She Should Run, a nonprofit that helps women pursue the idea of running for office, making them confident and equipped to take the next step. Visit sheshouldrun.org. BEST Support a campaign! If you have a woman candidate you align with in your community, become a volunteer, donor, or even a part of her staff. Who knows, — you might end up running for office next.…

For too long, Thai women like Ha Thi Binh were faced with a daily conundrum when they hopped on their motorcycles in Vietnam. Thai customs dictated that married women wear their hair in a high bun, but the law said all cyclists had to use a helmet. The six-inch high bun is more than just a fashionable hairstyle. In an interview with the humanitarian organization CARE, Binh said that it's a revered tradition for married Thai women to wear the bun. She explained that if she let her hair down in public, it would signal that she was being “unfaithful” to her husband. “It’s an affirmation that the woman is married,” Binh told CARE last summer. “We all do it the same way.” For years, she faced the frustration of…

“Every Body” is a 2023 documentary that follows three intersex people and profiles their lived experiences. Directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West, the film follows these individuals into thriving adulthood, after living through childhoods marked by shame and secrecy. (Apple TV) “The Janes,” released in 2022, is a documentary about an underground group of women who risked their personal and professional lives to support an estimated 11,000 women with unwanted pregnancies in the preRoe v. Wade era. (HBO) “Mutt” is a 2023 feature film by writer-director Vuk Lungulov-Klotz. It follows the main character, a trans man named Feña, as he reconnects with people who seemed to disappear from his life when he transitioned, all in the span of 24 hours. (muttthefilm.com)…

For centuries, female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice that involves the partial or total cutting of female genitals — for non-medical reasons — has been culturally accepted in a number of global communities. Despite overarching agreement that this practice is in violation of human rights and an increase in laws criminalizing the practice, an estimated 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM. In fact, it is still widely practiced. As of 2020, Equality Now estimates that women and girls are at risk of FGM in 92 countries, with just 51 countries enacting laws that prohibit FGM. The harmful practice can cause excruciating pain, chronic infections, sexual dysfunction, psychological trauma, and other health complications, among other short- and long-term effects. Fortunately, the United Nations aims to end FGM by…

In 2023, the PLOS Global Public Health journal published a global study that found that women and men are both more likely to live longer in countries with greater gender equality. According to a decade-long study, every 10% leap in gender equality corresponded with higher life expectancy: On average, women lived 3.6 years longer and men lived 2.9 years longer. In a press release from The George Institute for Global Health and Imperial College London, lead researcher Cat Pinho-Gomes said that the roots of gender inequality still run deep in many countries. “Many of the factors that determine how long you will live — like working and living conditions, exposure to pollution, access to health care, education, income, and social support — are layered with gender differences around the world,”…

GOOD Discussing pay with your coworkers might be awkward, but it's the best way to acknowledge hidden gender wage gaps. The OFCCP ensures that employees have the right to ask about, discuss, and disclose pay info. BETTER Acknowledge the successes of women in your workplace and be supportive of them seeking higher salaries. In “Women Don't Ask,” economist Linda C. Babcock encourages women to seek out overdue promotions. BEST Reach out to younger women entering the workforce and offer to mentor them. Inclusivity extends beyond the workplace. Give business advice over coffee, build them up, and offer to help them network in your career. WHAT'S THIS? THIS IS THE GOOD BAR. We believe in celebrating good and then joining in to make a difference. The Good Bar is full of…

Weeks after Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed an antidrag bill into law, New Jersey band Yo La Tengo used fashion as a form of protest. Halfway through their set at the Basement East venue in Nashville, band members Ira Kaplan and James McNew returned to play in wigs, dresses, and makeup. Although the band made no direct statement on stage, they later told Pitchfork: “What we did last night couldn’t have been clearer, and requires no further comment.” Passed in February, the anti-drag law prohibited “adult-oriented” entertainment of “male and female impersonators” from performing publicly. Critics were concerned that politicians could abuse the law to shut down drag shows, threaten freedom of speech, and promote transphobia. In June, U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker rejected the state law and ruled it…

On August 30, 2023, 92,003 fans gathered in Lincoln, Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium to cheer on the Husker volleyball team, making them the largest crowd to ever witness a women’s sports event. The five-time NCAA champion team played Omaha, Nebraska’s neighboring Mavericks for the state’s “Volleyball Day in Nebraska.” The match was the culmination of months of planning to build enthusiasm for the sport — and transforming the usual football stadium into a space to accommodate the volleyball teams. The Huskers won their first two sets and were celebrated by the tens of thousands of fans in red stadium seats. Prior to this event, the previous world record for women’s sports attendance belonged to a Champions League match between FC Barcelona and Wolfsburg in Barcelona, Spain, which clocked in at 91,648…

A husband and wife team are on a mission to break the generational cycle of domestic violence. In 2019, Taimalelagi Mataio (Matt) Faafetai Brown and his wife, Sarah, founded their campaign She Is Not Your Rehab to start an open dialogue about domestic violence. This year, the couple launched the free mental health program innerBoy. The program — which is geared toward men who have suffered from and still perpetuate domestic violence — was born out of a glaring lack of free anger management and therapy resources online. "Everything online was inaccessible. The courses online were costly, white-washed, or outdated,” Matt told RNZ. “It was a huge gap in our mental health system.” Although the 30-day program is free, Matt said that innerBoy is meant to be “a useful tool…

GOOD Learn more about domestic and family violence and the systems that perpetuate cycles of abuse. Read “On Violence and On Violence Against Women” by Jacqueline Rose as a starting place. BETTER Support groups that provide safe outlets for families and advocate for the end of violent cycles, such as Partnership Against Domestic Violence (padv.org) or the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ncadv.org). BEST Know the signs of domestic abuse — and acknowledge your role in stopping it. Consider taking a bystander training course with NO MORE, a nonprofit dedicated to ending gendered violence. Visit nomore.org.…

“Feminism Is for Everybody: Passionate Politics” by bell hooks is a short and accessible primer to feminism. It builds on the positive promise of eliminating sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression, encourag ing readers to explore a more feminist future. “Gender Magic: Live Shamelessly, Reclaim Your Joy & Step into Your Most Authentic Self ” by Rae McDaniel is tailored to trans and non-binary readers but has an amazing message for folks of any gender: You deserve to live with ease, pleasure, and connection in your gender. Mikki Kendall’s “Hood Feminism” is a contemporary collection of essays in which Kendall explores where modern feminism has failed and delivers a call to action for all feminists to live out the true mandate of the movement.…

Elva Guerra is rooting for queer Indigenous kids, and that includes themself. The 18-year-old, who plays Jackie on the hit Hulu show “Reservation Dogs,” is carving out a place in the film industry as someone who is proudly Two- Spirit. “Being Two-Spirit to me just means being protected and valid in my identity,” Guerra told Native News Online. “I’m neither a man nor a woman, but I feel a lot of qualities in both that I relate to and have always related to since I was very young. It’s definitely very affirming, to me, the word Two- Spirit.” The concept of being Two-Spirit has existed in Indigenous communities for centuries. In countless nations it was common for many Indigenous people — born male, female, and intersex — to fulfill the…

The field of gynecology and reproductive medicine has a long history (and painful present) of being both sexist and racist. While medical experiences should be defined by safety and care, most women and gender-diverse people will tell you infinite lived experiences on the contrary. Just knowing a woman who has visited the doctor — or being one — is proof of how urgently health care professionals must listen to the needs of people accessing care. Whether it’s taking better care of Black mothers, believing endometriosis patients when they say “my periods should not cause me this much pain,” providing funding for research into new medications and treatments specific to uterus-owners — or, most fundamentally, ensuring that health care is legal and accessible to anyone who needs it — the world…

On October 24, 2023, tens of thousands of Icelandic women went on strike. For 24 hours, they handed off their children, stayed home from work, and refused to do household chores. “I will not work this day, as I expect all the women will do as well,” Iceland’s prime minister, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, told the press. During the strike, women called on the men in their lives to step up in the office and at home. As female teachers stayed home and a majority of schools closed around the country, many fathers brought their children to the office with them. Lawmaker Thorgerdur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir said the strike was a celebration of the “foremothers” who fought for equality in decades past. “We need equality, we need justice, we need freedom, so this…

The Magnolia Mother’s Trust in Jackson, Mississippi, gives Black mothers $1,000 a month for one year with no strings attached. The trust, which is an initiative of Springboard To Opportunities, was announced in 2018, designed to support low-income Black mothers living in affordable housing. The first cohort of women consisted of 20 women, and the second, third, and fourth cohorts financed about 100 mothers each. “We want to change how our society talks about Black women and poverty — that it’s not a personal failing,” Aisha Nyandoro, CEO of Springboard To Opportunities, told the 19th News. “That there are systemic barriers that allow Black women to be the most vulnerable financially, even though they are the most highly invested in the labor market.” According to the organization’s report on the…

“Portrait of a Texas Family” is a video game with an emotional hook: Players take on the role of a parent raising a trans teenager in Texas. The game was created by the independent studio Lookout Drive Games by a team of trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming game designers. Released in 2022, the game has been making the rounds again online as the Texas legislature debates gender-affirming care for trans youth. "People seem to have really responded to what our team made and come away feeling what we wanted them to feel, which is the love, care, anxiety, and ultimately, hope, that this family is feeling about navigating society while raising a trans child,” said game director Robert Pigott in an interview with Them. The visual novel game — which…

GOOD Keep up to date with emerging laws regarding puberty blockers, gender-affirming care, bathroom restrictions, and children’s sports. Phone your senators, start conversations, and call out misconceptions. BETTER Step into their perspective. Read books like “Trans Kids” by Tey Meadow and “Emerging Gender Identities: Understanding The Diverse Experiences of Today’s Youth” by Mark Yardhouse and Julie Sadusky. BEST Be proud of your allyship! Make a statement with clothes like the Human Rights Campaign’s “Protect Trans Kids'' T-shirt. 100% of funds go directly to the HRC’s campaign to defend LGBTQ+ equality.…

In 1992, India’s 73rd Amendment established the role of Gram Panchayats (GPs) — official authorities that manage the public infrastructure of villages. The amendment also reserves one-third of the seats of all GPs in India for women. India has seen many benefits from its gender quotas, including improved chances of women winning elections, and the development of policies that better reflect the needs of women, according to an analysis by the Harvard International Review. India is not the only country to enact such quotas. Sweden’s political parties may voluntarily use them in their elections, though they are not mandated. And, in an effort to increase gender equality in parliament, Belgium requires political parties to fill at least a third of their electoral lists with women. Most recently, Sierra Leone has…

Jane Ferguson is a correspondent for PBS NewsHour and The New Yorker, contributing award-winning journalism from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. But no matter how accomplished of a war reporter she is, her most frequently asked question is “How do you cope in such a male-dominated industry?” to which she replies: “Women have been doing this work for over a century.” While Ferguson hasn’t “done a scientific study,” she said she has definitely seen an uptick in women war reporters, likely due to an increased demand for constant news, the normalization of freelance work in the industry, and improved gender equality across the world. But it’s not just the much-needed camaraderie of women in the field that stands out, but rather how women have shaped the field of…

GOOD RESOURCES While we’d love to say we’ve prepared a fool-proof syllabus to help you learn everything there is to know about gender, the ways gender marginalizes and liberates people, and how we can move forward into a more expansive, inclusive gender-affirming world … it simply isn’t that easy. But the good news is (there’s always good news!), we are happy to be on a lifelong journey to learning and unlearning more and more with every new read, watch, or listen. Here, we’ve compiled a short list of some of our favorite books, movies, and podcasts that explore the nuances of sex and gender. From foundational texts that help us navigate our own gender identities, to contemporary resources that invite us to see the world differently, we hope these recommendations…

“Gender Reveal” is a podcast hosted by Tuck Woodstock that centers non-binary and transgender folks, interviewing notable guests, analyzing current events, and answering advice questions to get closer to “understanding what the heck gender is.” “The Man Enough Podcast,” hosted by Liz Plank, Jamey Heath, and Justin Baldoni explores what it means to be a man in today's world, discussing privilege, fatherhood, mental health, and how rigid gender roles impact all people. “Hys teria ” podcast, hosted by comedian Erin Ryan and former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromanaco, discusses weekly political news and cultural topics that impact women’s lives.…