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Overturning Harvey Weinstein’s Conviction Shows Poor Understanding of Violence Against Women
Context is everything when it comes to sexual and physical violence against women. Harvey Weinstein had more than a “propensity” for sexual assault; he demonstrated a serially predatory pattern of behavior of targeting and violating women and learned from the systems that enabled him that he could get away with it. Knowledge of this pattern is not prejudicial; it is necessary for a thorough understanding of the perpetrator.
The overturning of Weinstein’s conviction merely emphasizes the degree to which protection of sexual predators at their victims’ expense and permissibility of male violence against women are entrenched in our institutions. If our legal system cannot appreciate the relevance of historical patterns of behavior, we can never combat violence against women successfully.
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Our Abortions: No One Asked You (with Lizz Winstead)
In this episode, we’re joined by the indomitable Lizz Winstead with a live studio in Washington, D.C. She bares all as we talk about the new documentary featuring her and Abortion Access Front (AAF), No One Asked You. From her childhood to her own abortion story, she tells it all, including what led her to found AAF.
In a time when the news is increasingly dire—especially with regard to reproductive health care—do comedians have a role in sharing the news? Winstead, who forever changed the way people get their news when she co-created The Daily Show, knows better than anyone that the answer to this question is a resounding yes.
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Men Need a New Narrative. The Future of U.S. Democracy Depends on It
Regressive ideas about manhood underlie the anti-democracy movement plaguing the U.S. Men whose politics are to the left of center can do their part to counteract the right’s success in playing identity politics with white male voters.
Here’s where we start.
(This article originally appears in the Spring 2024 issue of Ms. Join the Ms. community today and you’ll get issues delivered straight to your mailbox!)
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