France

Some French towns have banned the burkini bathing suit. Image: Shutterstock.

Banning The Burkini Reinforces A Single Story About Muslim Women: 'They Need Saving.'

The recent series of burkini bans in resorts across France was met with sensationalist global headlines about protecting national security and women’s lives. The interdiction does not protect either of these.

Read...
It all started with a 16-year-old French blogger named Adele Labo, who “suffered enormously” after being mocked by her classmates for refusing to shave. Image: Adele Labo.

'Princesses Have Hair': How A Teenager's Viral Hashtag Is Shaking Up Beauty Standards

For centuries — since the days of ancient Egypt, in fact — women have been going to immense lengths to remove their body hair. Plucking, shaving, buffing, stripping and even burning away that supposedly “unsightly,” “masculine” thicket of fuzz. But now, women are being encouraged to embrace their body hair in a thoroughly 21st century way: a viral hashtag.

Read...
french love

The BIG Thing American Men Can Learn From French Men About Sex

First of all, because I'm traveling alone and have, what I imagine, quite an obvious American accent, men do not hesitate to engage me in conversation.

Read...

Traveling As A Feminist 

Traveling is good for your soul, or at least that’s what those motivational images of beautiful sunsets on Facebook say. I don’t know for sure how much better my soul feels after I go on a trip, but I do know that travelling as a woman can result in some interesting observations. The difference of treatment that women receive from one country to another has always been fascinating to me. Not only because we can be targets of sexism and misogyny anywhere, but because of how the overtness of inequality varies from location to location.

Read...

Veronica: Visual Merchandiser 

Spotted: Downtown San Jose

Read...

Emily Ulmer: Photographer 

Spotted In: Downtown Santa Barbara

Occupation: Photographer

Read...

The Quiet, Giant Change In The Music Industry

If you've ever listened to a Top 40 radio station, the following three words likely bring you a shiver of anticipation (or dread): new music Tuesda

Read...

How Travel Saved My Love Life

It’s amazing that I could learn more about the flawed inner workings of my love life in a weekend than in 10 years of dating.

Read...