大象传媒

Woman. It鈥檚 such a politicized word. Has its definition ever been fixed? 

Living in an age where the word 鈥渨oman鈥� is routinely weaponized in favor of white, cisgender, heterosexual, and male supremacy, and against Black, Brown, Indigenous, and LGBTQ people, it鈥檚 challenging to think of a world where the word 鈥渨oman鈥濃�攁nd those who fit its definition鈥攊s no longer controlled and manipulated in the interests of power.

My own relationship to 鈥渨omanhood鈥� (and its policing) began early. 

I was no older than 11 when my mother first told me that the way I was sitting鈥攍egs in a V shape, knees about a foot apart鈥攚as 鈥渘ot how ladies sit.鈥� I was confused as to why there were rules for the way I sat but none for my brothers. As I got older, and curse words began making their way into my vocabulary, my father would tell me 鈥済irls don鈥檛 talk like that.鈥� And so I learned there were rules to how women spoke. 

By my junior year of college, I defined myself as a 鈥渨omanist,鈥� embracing Alice Walker鈥檚 definition of 鈥渁 Black feminist or feminist of color.鈥� Feminist theory encouraged me to begin interrogating my conception of my own womanhood. I discovered things about myself that had long been suppressed because they did not fit into the patriarchal definition of 鈥渨oman,鈥� like my bisexuality, nonbinary identity, or that I鈥攍ike many other humans鈥攃urse. I ultimately realized that my true womanhood was defined by a resistance to these arbitrary rules.

In a world where (rates that are ), just existing as a woman is an act of resistance. If 鈥渨omanhood鈥� can be defined as resistance, then 鈥渨oman鈥� can be defined as resistor. 

So many women throughout history have called out the 鈥渞ules鈥� for what they are鈥攊llusions of a white-supremacist, patriarchal dream鈥攁nd vowed to resist them. This collection of 大象传媒 stories is about (just some of) those women. 

From how Indigenous people embraced the meaning of gender equality long before that same framework would be adopted for women鈥檚 suffrage, to LGBTQ women finding safety and solace within a community that recognizes鈥攏ot rejects鈥攖heir identities, to the long history of a truly inclusive feminism, these stories show how resistance and womanhood are often intertwined. 

Women鈥檚 History Month, like any history month, is a calling to continue the work of these women鈥攁nd those whose names we鈥檒l never know鈥攂ecause they resisted what the world was for what it could be.

What Women鈥檚 Suffrage Owes to Indigenous Culture

Gender equality in Haudenosaunee society gave 19th-century white women some big ideas.

By Bridget Quinn

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How Women-Led Movements Are Redefining Power, From California to Nepal

In the face of corporate domination, economic injustice, and climate change, movements led by women offer a revolutionary path.

By Rucha Chitnis

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WATCH: Meet the Gaza Mom Suing the U.S. Over Israel Military Aid

A plaintiff in the legal case on the United States鈥� complicity in enabling Israeli genocide against Palestinians speaks out.

By Sonali Kolhatkar

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LGBTQ Migrants Find Community at Mexico鈥檚 鈥淗ouse of Women鈥�

After traveling thousands of miles fleeing violence and discrimination, LGBTQ women find safety and support in Tapachula, Mexico.

By Alice Driver

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The Black Mothering Body, Fortified

In creating new life, Black mothers must overcome medical malpractice and social unsafety together.

By Gloria Alamrew

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Menopause Matters

The end of menstruation has been stigmatized and misunderstood. The 鈥渕enopausal multiverse鈥� can change that.

By Omisade Burney-Scott

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This 鈥淣ew鈥� Feminism Has Been Here All Along

Our grandmothers showed us a bigger, better feminism with women鈥檚 rights, racial equity, and gender justice at its heart.

By Dani McClain