In our society, masculinity and femininity are often associated with gender, rather than as an expression of self. Masculinity is considered an expression of manhood, the state of being a "real man," and femininity is an expression of womanhood, the state of being a "real woman." Gender stereotypes...

Moxie, an empowering film, was released on March 3, 2021, on Netflix. The film follows the main character, Vivian (Hadley Robinson), as she fights against her school's sexist ways. Vivian must think of an idea for her college essay on something she cares about. Having always been an introvert, she...

Dedicating her life to social reform, and as the first female Cabinet member, Frances Perkins was a revolutionary. Born in Boston, raised in Worcester, and educated at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, Perkins spent her formative years in New England. Perkins pursued physics and...

Hedy Lamarr was a world-famous actress, considered the most beautiful woman in the world. She was also an immigrant, a passionate supporter of the war against the Nazis, a sexual and cultural progressive, and the inventor of the technology at the basis of Bluetooth, WiFi, and cellular communications. On...

When you google “the first woman to run the Boston Marathon,” the name Kathrine Switzer pops up. Across the Internet, Switzer is remembered for the iconic video of her being attacked by marathon officials, and for the changes that were enacted following the altercation. But Switzer was not the first...

Madam C.J. Walker was an influential woman who utilized hair to inspire confidence in the women of her time and today. In 1867, Sarah Breedlove was born to former slaves Minerva and Owen Breedlove. By the age of seven, both of Sarah’s parents had died, forcing her to move in with her sister and...

Betty Friedan was different from many of her fellow feminists in a way that was alienating. Similar to other activists such as contemporary, journalist Gloria Steinem, Friedan believed that tradition and female complacency were the culprits for society's view of women as inferior to men.  However,...

Woman of the Month is a column dedicated to educating people about influential women of the past. Every month, I will highlight a specific woman and discuss how she has influenced our world. For September, we will be exploring how Augusta Ada Byron, known by many in the mathematics community as Ada...

Planned Parenthood is one of the most controversial federally funded organizations currently running in the United States, clouded by controversy and misinformation. Planned Parenthood is a valuable organization that is one of the leading organizations that provides health care and sex education for...