Posts by Kelsey Lueptow
5 Ways Girls Are Taught to Avoid ‘Smart’ (And What We Can Do About It)
I started censoring myself in the seventh grade. Kids in my class made fun of me for using “big words” and getting too many trivia questions right, so I stopped. Being “too smart” can lead to teasing for any kid, but certain demographics get unique torment. Young girls certainly have their own set of obstacles. Here are five examples of how girls are taught to avoid “smart.”
Read MoreBabies Don’t ‘Ruin’ Bodies: 3 Reasons to Stop Saying They Do
One of the first things I heard upon announcing my pregnancy was: “So, do you think you’ll gain a lot of weight?” Why is it that so many people are more concerned with a woman’s body ability to be a sexual object than as a powerful tool in creating, nourishing, and giving birth to a baby? Here are three reasons to stop saying babies “ruin” women’s bodies!
Read More5 Ways to Speak Out in a Toxic Work Environment
There is a social conundrum for women in which speaking one’s opinion openly and flatly can be considered “un-ladylike.” Since every person and situation is different, only you will be able to decide what works in your life. But if you’re ever in a position where you feel uncomfortable or unwelcomed speaking up, here are a few suggestions that I hope can help.
Read MoreIs ‘Bitch’ an Example of Internalized Sexism?
Some detrimental cultural ideals run so deep that no one even questions whether they might operate as support beams of status quo oppression. Let’s take the word “bitch” for example. As an exercise in identifying some potentially hibernating connotations that can perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes, here are a few common uses of the word “bitch” and their problematic subtexts.
Read MoreFeminism Now: What the Third Wave is Really About
Feminism is a creature with many faces these days. But bottom line, the goal is homogenous: Feminism aims for gender equality within a currently patriarchal society. Sometimes it’s just hard to get massive amounts of people to agree exactly what the best means to achieving that goal is. So here is a list of five things that the current movement of feminism absolutely is.
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