Gender Roles & Politics

Women who had to, or chose to, dress as men to access masculine environments to follow their calling are often overlooked in history. Enter the book Let Me Be Frank: A Book About Women Who Dressed Like Men to Do Shit They Weren’t Supposed to Do by Tracy Dawson, who talks here with Gabriel Leão.

Caos.a (a play with the word “Causa”, Portuguese for “Cause”) began during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, and was created by television host Barbara Thomaz, with professor Ana Sharp, lawyer Natália Veroneze, advertising pro Flávia Zaparoli and actress Maira Dvorek. Gabriel Leão is here to tell you all about it.

The bimbo is a product of a misogynistic imagination, a sex object and an ableist stereotype. Her image is tied up in ageism as well, being forever young and childlike. Because the outlines of the bimbo stereotype are so bold, and her character so outrageous, she also makes perfect material for drag and other kinds of gender play and parody. And, because gender is weird, people have begun to mess with language so that people of all genders can play with it as well. But is all of this, like, okay?

It’s extremely disingenuous to pretend that everyone but men struggle with emotions, and doesn’t help liberate us from the toxic ideal that “real men don’t cry,” or exhibit sadness. Men who date other men have additional obstacles to navigate if both they and their partners have difficultly accessing vulnerability. That’s why I’d like to take the time with you to discuss how social norms have shaped the emotional health of queer men and how crucial vulnerability is as an empowering vehicle towards deeper connection and compatibility in your relationships. I’ll also share some tips with you on how to uncover your own latent feelings and offer some suggestions on how to share these thoughts with someone you’re interested in or dating.

Hi Sam! This is a great question. I love it for two reasons: first, because learning about feminism seems like a pretty great use for the internet, but far more importantly because you're questioning the things you are reading and looking for additional perspectives so you can make your own mind up...

One of the weirder things about being on the internet for a while is that you see the same arguments happening over and over again. I looked at your question, thought, "Didn't this discussion just happen?" and then remembered that the round of discourse I had in mind took place a decade ago. Which...

Hey, Kevin! This is a big thing to come to terms with, and I appreciate your honesty. I don’t think you’re alone, and I also think reaching out and asking for help when healing from your trauma (we all have it) takes a lot of courage and shows a willingness to be curious about yourself. So, thank...

There's a short answer and a long answer to your question. The short answer is: yes, someone can enjoy "feminine" things like make-up or dresses and still be a feminist. We don't have a dress code you have to follow to be part of the club. The long answer is that there are many reasons why you, and...

You may have heard that gender is between our ears and sex is between our legs, but is it? And if not, what is it, and why is it so important to people? Let's find out.

DebbieK's question continued: I was (and still am) a virgin and I had never done sex of any kind (oral, anal, etc.) but I had been a sexual person since I was a kid. I masturbated all the time when I was younger because it felt good but I didn't associate it with sex until I was around 13. This...