The phrase “crazy cat lady” is usually delivered with a smirk. It sounds harmless, even playful. It paints a familiar image: a lonely, unstable woman surrounded by cats instead of people. But the stereotype is not really about pets. It is about power, independence, and what happens when a woman chooses not to center her […]
Read More The “Crazy Cat Lady” Isn’t Crazy, She’s IndependentWe’ve all heard it before. Women just know when something is wrong. Women have intuition. A gut feeling. A sixth sense. But what if women’s intuition isn’t mystical at all? What if it’s survival? From a young age, girls are taught to be aware. We are told not to walk alone at night. We are […]
Read More Women’s Intuition Isn’t Magic, It’s SurvivalOn Tuesday in class, xoxogossipgirl, EyesWideShut, and StoryPaws drew attention to local, national and global stories that reflect what’s happening right now in sports, economics, and society. We discussed James Madison University’s women’s basketball team, rising unemployment rates among Black women nationally, the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team, and Swedish skiier Elis Lundholm, the first […]
Read More NEWSROOM 2/24The mens olympic hockey team is making headlines everywhere following their huge win for the first time in years. However, it’s definitely not the win that is breaking the news. After the Olympic win, the men took the obvious option for them, partying with the head of the FBI and calling Donald Trump in the […]
Read More When Winning Is not enoughWhen the Epstein documents were “released” most of the internet focused on one thing: the names. Who’s on the list? And who’s not on the list… But the bigger issue isn’t gossip. It’s transparency. Yes, redactions are normal. Courts protect survivor identities. Ongoing legal matters get sealed. That’s how the system works. But when the […]
Read More Redactions and ReputationsI was sitting at a dinner table in Dublin with newfound friends from my study abroad program. We were drinking ciders and beers, going around the table and talking about our first times. Half of them were clumsy and laughable, the other half endearing and sweet. By the time it was my turn to share, […]
Read More Virginity as a Social ConstructOn April 20th, 2025, professional wrestlers Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, and Iyo Sky competed at Wrestlemania 41 in a triple threat match for the WWE Women’s Championship. While the result of this contest may have been staged, the emotional and professional stakes were very much real for all three combatants. Women’s professional wrestling has a […]
Read More Super Slamming the patriarchy? The surprising gender Politics of the WWE“Not all men”. It’s the phrase we’re met with all too often. Always when a woman brings up the wrongdoings of a man, never with the intent to actually discuss feminist issues. Rather, “not all men” is typically another way to say, “I would never do that” or “This conversation makes me feel uncomfortable”. This […]
Read More “Not all men”Healthcare and gender pay is nothing new to the ongoing feminism conversation. And yet, it continues to define the world we live in. The inspiration behind this post is simply the world around me telling me what I cannot do: earn equal pay as my male coworkers in the healthcare field. As children we get […]
Read More Same white coats, Unequal pay checks.In one of the most viewed athletic competitions in the world, the 2026 Winter Olympics marked an incredible chapter for the history of women’s sports. Sunday, February 22 marks the end of the winter games. Throughout the past seventeen days, viewers watched a variety of winter sports including snowboarding, skiing, ice hockey, figure skating, and many more! Beyond all the medals and ice surrounding northern […]
Read More More than a Medal: How Women Transformed the Winter OlympicsOn Wednesday, February 18, The University Program Board hosted its annual comedy act in Wilson hall with it’s chosen comedian: Andrew Dismukes. The 30 year old Texan has been a Saturday Night Live writer since 2017 and became a cast member in 2020, and if you want to dive deeper into his life, here’s his […]
Read More It’s time for a female comedian.On Tuesday 2/17, attagirl, unfilteredpanda, and dulcinea covered local, national, and global news stories to the class; consisting of the JMU ICE protests, the year of women farmers, the re-raising of the Pride flag in NYC, and a Zambian woman’s fight for her abortion. LOCAL NEWS Local news covered JMU and county happenings. The United […]
Read More Newsroom 2/17I was watching Bolivian Cholita Skaters, who wear traditional attire while fighting for gender equality, the other day, and it made me think about feminism and my culture. I sat with the idea of how they connect when the majority acts like feminism and cultural traditions are opposites. I love my culture, my country, and […]
Read More Can You Be a Feminist and Still Love Your Cultural Traditions?From the time we were little girls to now, there has been these impossible standards we are expected to follow. It’s like we were handed this invisible rulebook about how we’re supposed to look like. Thin, but curvy. Fit, but not too muscular. Flawless, but natural. And in the end, it doesn’t matter what you […]
Read More The Invisible RulebookWhy does my razor cost more than my brother’s? The higher pricing frequently imposed for goods and services offered to women as opposed to those marketed to men is known as the “pink tax.” It’s not a real government tax, despite the name. This discrepancy in pricing has its roots in consumer targeting and gendered […]
Read More The Pink TaxFrom a young age, girls are taught how to stay safe around men. Boys are rarely taught how not to be dangerous. Most girls grow up with rules. Don’t walk alone at night. Text when you get home. Cover your drink. Don’t lead him on. Share your location. Be polite, but not too friendly. Be […]
Read More Boys Suppress and Girls PrepareIt may surprise you to learn that the United States has a higher maternal mortality rate than comparably developed and wealthy countries. It may surprise you even more to learn that, in spite of medical advancements, pregnancy and childbirth in our country have become more dangerous in recent years. For example, in 2021, 1,205 American […]
Read More Why are Black Women More Likely to Die in Childbirth?Growing up as an only child, I always felt as though I was three steps behind everyone else. While my classmates had started “dating” in 5th grade, I still didn’t fully understand the concept of what a boyfriend was. In middle school, when the boys in my class were joking about masturbation, I wanted to […]
Read More Learning to Advocate for My Own Body in CollegeThis past weekend I watched Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance. Before Apple Music announced the performer, I didn’t know how the Kendrick Lamar show would be topped. When they announced Bad Bunny as the performer, I was excited and proud. His performance would be historical, as he would be the first artist to perform […]
Read More Here’s What You Missed: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl PerformanceTroubles in Finding a Roommate In considering my move to Harrisonburg after graduation, my mom was like I don’t want you living by yourself. In my head, it would be way easier to find an apartment just by myself. I knew my mom usually knows what is best, so I started up the grueling roommate’s search process. This required […]
Read More RoomMate ruckusAmerica runs on celebrity. From pop stars to politicians, we, the many, are highly invested in the lives of the few. It’s an evolutionary impulse: famous figures keep us non-celebrities aspirational, striving to match their happiness and success with our own. We steal their makeup routines, make their music the soundtrack to our lives. America’s […]
Read More Hind Rajab and Liam Ramos: Celebrities of RevolutionDid you miss us?!? Because we missed you! Get ready for a semester full of hot takes, deep thinking, pop culture analysis, and essential feminist consciousness raising! Before we get back into it, let’s give a big SHOUTOUT to our newest cohort of bloggers: attagirlHi there! I’m a 21-year-old Virginian who loves pop culture, being […]
Read More reactivating In 3… 2… 1…In the midst of the Trump administration rolling back DEI initiatives, I’m going to shed some light on my experiences as a mixed Black woman. DEI makes a way for me to thrive and survive in spaces that weren’t created with people like me in mind. I can’t count on my fingers and toes the […]
Read More Your Favorite DEI HireShows and movies are important in the media world in today’s society. One of the main things film media is meant to do is entertain. This can be shown in many forms, whether the form is fantasy, science fiction, documentary, etc., they are meant to draw you in and show viewers things/situations they may have […]
Read More Love on the Spectrum: Exploiting or BeneficialTurning 22 often feels like the expected launching point into the “real world” with a job neatly secured post-college. Yet, as I blew out the candles, my reality looked distinctly different. There wasn’t a corporate email address waiting, no orientation schedule tucked beside my diploma. Instead, there was a profound sense of open space, a […]
Read More 22 is for me.It’s 2025, and I’m 22 years old, still navigating the treacherous waters of body image. Growing up, my generation was bombarded with critical commentary on women’s appearances, and it has left its scars. Growing up, I was on a cheer team, and I thought at the time being assigned as a base was my worst […]
Read More When Will We Stop Talking About Women’s Bodies?: Selena gomez takes the brunt of this again!Late one night last week, my roommate and I were working in silence, an old video of our favorite YouTuber playing in the background, when it hit me: we only have a few more nights like this. The quintessential college experience, having a roommate, will be over for me in a matter of days, and […]
Read More The Secret to College Survival: Not Hating Your RoommateThere’s a common misconception that the summer “it” job is working at a Golf Course as a beverage cart girl. Well, as someone who has done that job for two straight summers, I can tell you it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Golf is a male-dominated, sport so making young girls the norm […]
Read More The Reality of Being a Beverage Cart GirlAs a senior graduating in less than three weeks, I have been reflecting on my time here, wondering what my college experience would have been like if I hadn’t gone to school 10 hours away. If I stayed at home, I would have gone to the University of New Hampshire, which is 20 minutes from […]
Read More Goodbye, hometown: my experience going to college out-of-stateThose who know me know I love live music. I don’t just love it, going to concerts is my absolute favorite thing to do. It’s where all my money goes and how I spend most of my weekends. There are so many things I love about live music. The pageantry, excitement, and performance are a […]
Read More How live music restores my faith in humanityOn Monday 4/21, tyrannosaurus_flex and Steelersfan shared local, national, and intergalactic news stories to the class; including JMU graduation, the 2025 WNBA Draft, and the all-female Blue Origin space flight. All eyes were pointed to the sky on April 14th as Jeff Bezos’s private aerospace company, Blue Origin, completed its 11th human space flight. This […]
Read More 4/21 Newsroom: Blue Origin Space Flight, WNBA Draft, & GraduationWelcome back. If you’ve made it through the first half of this story and lived to tell the tale, prepare yourself because the last seven tracks don’t just pick up where we left off, they chuck you headfirst into the abyss. This is where things get darker, louder, and unbearably real. So if you’re still […]
Read More Part 2 of “Preacher’s Daughter” AnalysisAfter watching the women’s tournament this year, I have a lot of things to say about it. First of all, why are the women playing back to back when the men have multiple days to rest and recover? There is no reason why women should not be getting the same treatment. I saw a TikTok […]
Read More 2025 Women’s March Madness TournamentOn April 22, a high-stakes law enforcement operation unfolded quietly within Harrisonburg. There was an arrest warrant issued to twenty-two-year-old Katelynn Ann Hipes, wanted for second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection to the death of Kevin Small. Hipes was taken into custody on Lee Ave. Harrisonburg […]
Read More When safety Meets silenceLet’s be honest: the beauty industry has been the moment for years. Our feeds have been overflowing with skincare hauls, 10-step routines, and bottles so pretty they practically beg for a selfie. But 2025 is shaping up to be the year we collectively say… yeah, we’re done. Reports from top beauty insiders show that skincare […]
Read More No One’s Buying It: Why Gen Z Is Breaking Up With BeautyFollowing the release of the new Hunger Games book, Sunrise on the Reaping, I was one of the many people itching to get their hands on it. If you know Suzanne Collins then you know that she doesn’t release a book without it having a deeper meaning. She often touches on gender, race, and political […]
Read More Pretty Privilege and how it Connects to The Hunger Games SeriesCover by Anton Luzhkovsky on Unsplash There is a popular theory that spending enough time around other women will align your menstrual cycles. This anecdote has been passed from mother to daughter over the course of time despite no scientific consensus on its validity. I was about 15 when my mom passed it to me. […]
Read More How “Synching Up” With My Mom Changed Our RelationshipWhen I was seven, my next door neighbor accidentally pushed me over while we were out roller skating. Over my tears, my mom told me: “Forgive and forget” while putting bandaids on my scraped knees. At fourteen, someone stepped on my brand new Vans that I’d been excited to wear for weeks . When I […]
Read More Not All Healing Begins With ‘Forgive and Forget’On Monday, Travelqueen7 and Princessgoose shared local, national, and global news stories about DEI being eliminated, Rory McIlroy winning the Masters, and global tariffs with the class. On April 11th, James Madison University announced the removal of the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Charlie King, the President of JMU, expressed that this decision was […]
Read More NEWSROOM 4/14: JMU DEI, The masters, and tariffsIn two days, I am taking graduation photos, and I truly feel like I am preparing for prom again. There is so much to think about in regard to graduation photos. Should I get my dress altered? How am I going to do my hair? What color nails should I have? Should I wear open-toe […]
Read More Smile Through the Sweat: The Unexpected Stress of Graduation PhotosThe Coronavirus. A deadly disease that swept the world and changed the fabric of literally every person’s life for the better part of two years. Many lost loved ones and friends to the horrible pandemic. Still, aside from the direct effects of the sickness, there were also detrimental effects on society as a whole, especially […]
Read More Reflections from a covid Kid 5 years laterBlack women are already at a higher risk when it comes to healthcare, more specifically Black women are 2x likely to die compared to White women while giving birth. About 12 years ago, I got sick and wouldn’t be diagnosed for another ten years with what turned out to be Crohn’s Disease. My life completely […]
Read More More than just a tummy acheMy senior year of college can be described as one of the best and most stressful times of my life. This is the last “hoorah” before stepping out into the adult world. My goal is to make the most of it, but it feels like there’s no time for fun when one of the most […]
Read More The Post-College Job HustleEthel Cain’s “Preacher’s Daughter” is much more than an album. For me, listening at full blast in my headphones is just not enough. I need it injected into my veins. It’s a truly gut wrenching experience which takes you through themes of religious trauma, family conflict, love, sexual abuse, and death. If you’ve ever experienced […]
Read More Analyzing Ethel cain’s “Preacher’s Daughter”Cover Photo by Ekaterina Novitskaya on Unsplash When I first got my period, I didn’t bathe or shower the entire time because I thought the blood would do something bad to our plumbing. When I first tried to wear a tampon, it popped out at softball practice because I didn’t put it in all the […]
Read More 5 things i wish i knew before i got my first periodIf you love to binge cheesy dramas like I do, then you are probably familiar with the popular early 2000s show Desperate Housewives. You are probably even more familiar with the iconic character, Lynette Scavo. Lynette is one of those characters that you hate at the beginning then you grow to love by the end […]
Read More Lynette Scavo AKA The Corporate PowerhouseDisney’s remake of Snow White has been rated a 1.5/10, which is the lowest rating in IMDb history. After Disney released its plans for a live-action film, the conversation switched from magic mirrors to heated arguments. Its underwhelming box office performance has led to casting controversies that have flooded social media regarding Rachel Zegler and […]
Read More Disney’s live action Snow White: A Fairytale Flop?
ShoutOut! James Madison University 