Statue of Millicent Fawcett, political activist and writer, 1847-1929. Speaking Truth to Power It’s true that some people become uncomfortable when they hear the word “incest” or use the word “incest.” I’ve heard it described as “icky” and “nasty-sounding,” as...
Image Source: Unsplash When I started writing She’s Such a Liar, many people—in fact, most people I talked to—told me not to waste my time. They warned me that my topic was too controversial, too uncomfortable, not likely to be taken seriously. “Nobody’s going to...
Confronting Family Sexual Abuse “Why did you use the word ‘manifesto’ in the title of She’s Such a Liar?” This question was recently put to me by a friend. I wrote She’s Such a Liar in the hope that it would serve as a clarion call, I explained, a plea that we change...
Accountability, Transparency, Objectivity—and Victim Shaming. When the Epstein victims told their stories of sexual violence—publicly, forcefully, and with documentation—they were met with skepticism, character attacks, and efforts to rewrite their narratives....
The Human Rights Crisis the Headlines Ignore. This is the second of a two-part post that forms a call to action to feminists; anti-sexual violence and anti-incest activists; social justice activists; anti-sexists; sexual violence prevention advocates; and all who are...
This is the first of a two-part post that forms a call to action to feminists, anti-sexual violence and anti-incest activists, social justice activists, anti-sexists, sexual violence prevention advocates, feminist journalists, and all who are simply fed up with our...
Pete Hegseth’s call for “male standards” in the military echoes a far older code—one built on domination, denial, and silence. Image: Andrew Geddes in the late 1870s. From Louise Barnett, Ungentlemanly Acts: The Army’s Notorious Incest Trial (Hill and Wang,...
This is the last of a two-part post that forms an appeal to feminists; anti-sexual violence and anti-incest activists; social justice activists; anti-sexists; sexual violence prevention advocates; and all who are simply fed up with our culture’s indifference to sexual...
This is the first of a two-part post that forms an appeal to feminists; anti-sexual violence and anti-incest activists; social justice activists; anti-sexists; sexual violence prevention advocates; and all who are simply fed up with with our culture’s indifference to...
In midlife, I became a beer drinker. This choice approved of by both my health-conscious children and even my gynecologist: “After all, it's fermented!" But after years of pints, I explained to my children that there were some nights when I just didn't want a beer; it...