Episodes
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In our 50th episode, we celebrate a woman so talented, kind, sincere, and funny that many people call her “Saint Dolly.” That’s right - it was long past time that we dedicate an episode to singer, actress, philanthropist, and Christmas-enthusiast Dolly Parton.
We’ll discuss her history, her rise to fame, some of our favorite Dolly songs and films, her charitable work and giving, and how she became the best thing about 2020 and just about the only thing all Americans can agree on.
Want extra reading? Check out our sources:
NYT: The Grit and Glory of Dolly PartonLA Times: Country Stars 'Break the Silence' on AIDS : Campaign: Clint Black, Tammy Wynette, Wynonna Judd, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson are among 35 performers who will appear in print, radio and television ads beginning Jan. 13.Guardian: Working-class women are too busy for gender theory – but they're still feminists CNN: Dolly Parton learned she funded the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine when the rest of us didThe Boot: Dolly Parton and Charity WorkNPR: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Delivers 100 Millionth Book : NPR EdTennessean: Obama says it was a 'screw up' not awarding Dolly Parton the Presidential Medal of Freedom PARTON, DOLLY, and Karen Jaehne. "CEO and Cinderella: AN INTERVIEW WITH DOLLY PARTON." Cinéaste 17, no. 4 (1990): 16-19. Accessed December 1, 2020. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41692590.Hoppe, Graham. "Icon and Identity: Dolly Parton’s Hillbilly Appeal." Southern Cultures 23, no. 1 (2017): 49-62. Accessed December 1, 2020. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26391677.Pennisi, Elizabeth, and Nigel Williams. "Will Dolly Send in the Clones?" Science 275, no. 5305 (1997): 1415-416. Accessed December 1, 2020. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2892255.Profess-Hers is presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
Profess-Hers is written and created by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. We produce the show ourselves, with help from Austin Haynes.
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In our second episode celebrating and discussing Women’s Suffrage and the 100th-anniversary of the 19th Amendments, we interview best-selling authors Fiona Davis and MJ Rose, who edited the short story collection Stories from Suffragette City.
Their book focuses on one day in the history of women’s suffrage in the United States - October 23, 1915 - the day of the suffrage parade in New York City (about 25,000 women marched). Many of the stories include historical figures, such as Ida B. Wells, Alice Paul, and Mabel Ping-Hau Lee, who were also on our recent episode. This book, which is available as of last month, includes short stories by Fiona and MJ, as well as 10 other authors.
Fiona and MJ were also gracious enough to share with us their writing processes, and advice for writing students.
To see the colorized footage of NYC from 1911 that MJ Rose refers to: https://youtu.be/hZ1OgQL9_CwTo find the book Stories from Suffragette City: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250241337For more about MJ Rose: https://www.mjrose.com/content/For more about Fiona Davis: https://fionadavis.net/To see more images from the 1915 NYC Suffrage Parade: https://nyheritage.org/exhibits/recognizing-womens-right-vote/paradesProfess-Hers is presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
Profess-Hers is written and created by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. We produce the show ourselves, with help from Austin Haynes.
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Episodes manquant?
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In our third (!) Halloween episode, we discuss cults - how they affect women, how they work, and historical and modern American cults.
What do silverware, self-help groups, and science fiction actors have to do with cults? You’ll find out!
Misty discusses the Oneidas - their surprising beliefs on gender roles and their dangerous approach to communal living. Allegra shares an overview of how Keith Raneire built NXIVM on misogyny.
Whether it’s a doomsday cult or a utopia gone wrong, cults are dangerous, sometimes especially for women.
Want extra reading? Check out our sources:
The Vow, HBODr. Janja Lalich “Why Do People Join Cults?”: Ted TalkOn the Oneidas: http://www.nyhistory.com/central/oneida.htm The Oneida handbook: https://library.syr.edu/digital/collections/h/Hand-bookOfTheOneidaCommunity/Women and Cults: https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/power-female-cult-leaders“Holy Shit, We’re In a Cult” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3ess8txBX0&feature=youtu.be“I Grew Up in a Cult. It was Heaven - and Hell” (Ted Talk) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS7mBbXxJYA&t=396sNice Try! Podcast, Episode 4 “Oneida”The Truth About True Crime Podcast, Season 1 (Terror in the Jungle, about Jonestown)The Truth About True Crime Podcast, Season 2 (Ministry of Evil, about the Alamos)Uncover Podcast: Season 1: Escaping NXIVM“The ‘Not Me’ Myth,” by Margaret Thaler Singer. Published by IDEA: http://www.ideajournal.com/authors.php?id=4“NXIVM leader found guilty,” NPR: https://www.npr.org/2019/06/19/734116183/nxivm-leader-keith-raniere-found-guilty-of-all-charges-in-sex-cult-caseLost Women of NXIVM - Investigation DiscoverySeduced - StarzProfess-Hers is presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
Profess-Hers is written and created by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. We produce the show ourselves, with help from Austin Haynes.
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In this episode, we discuss the fight for women’s suffrage, the imperfect history of suffragists, and what it means for women to vote. Misty gives us the history (of course), Allegra recommends some books, and both share insights about voting patterns, voter suppression, and important women in the battle for universal suffrage.
Women gained and lost the right to vote a few times in American history, and even when we achieved the victory of the 19th Amendment in 1920, not all women were able to vote. This is the story of how women fought for suffrage, and then of how women have accessed and used that right. In a future episode, we will talk even more about some of the suffragists who did the work, and some literature about that fight.
Want extra reading? Check our sources:
What We Mean When We Talk About 'Suburban Women Voters' - NPRMattel adds Susan B. Anthony to its Barbie lineup - CBSDon't Mess With the Jiu-jitsu SuffragettesWomen's Suffrage Reads for Fiction Lovers | The New York Public LibraryIda B. Wells-Barnett - National Women’s History MuseumThe 1913 Women's Suffrage Parade - The AtlanticThis Day in History: The 1913 Women's Suffrage Parade - White House ArchivesWoman Suffrage and the 19th Amendment - National ArchivesBooks we recommended in this episode:
Why They Marched by Susan WareThe Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona DavisSaving Savannah byTonya BoldenProfess-Hers is presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
Profess-Hers is written and created by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. We produce the show ourselves, with help from Austin Haynes.
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We’re back! In this episode, we discuss women in Social Media, including some famous women from social media and internet history, a recent social media whistleblower, and facts and research about what happens to women online (it’s not all bad, but it’s mostly bad).
Women are more active on platforms like Facebook and Twitter, though they are less likely to be listened to and more likely to be harassed. Allegra shares some history about Radia Perlman, whose inventions helped make the internet possible, and Joan Ball, who was the first person to make computer-based dating successful. Misty discusses Facebook whistleblower Sophie Zhang, and what Facebook has been up to (it’s almost entirely bad).
We’re inspired by all three women. Plus, we talk about what we’ve been up to since March.
Want extra reading? Here’s where we did our research:
A brief history of Facebook | Technology- The GuardianFacebook Is Failing in Global Disinformation Fight, Says Former Worker - NYTWhistleblower Says Facebook Ignored Global Political Manipulation - BuzzfeedHow Social Media Has Reshaped Feminism - Council on Foreign RelationsTwitter still failing women over online violence and abuse - Amnesty InternationalWomen equal men in computing skill, but are less confident - The ConversationToward a cyberfeminist future: A new study centers African women as protagonists online - Global Voices15 of the most important women in tech who changed the world - MashableRadia Perlman: Don't Call Me the Mother of the Internet - The AtlanticThe Mother of All Swipes - About Joan Ball - Logic MagazineRewind - Before Tinder, there was Dateline | 1843 magazine - The EconomistWomen have about half the followers of men on Twitter and otherwise diminished influence - IHEProfess-Hers is presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
Profess-Hers is written and created by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. We produce the show ourselves, with help from Austin Haynes.
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In our first of three episodes about Unstoppable Texas Women, we discuss two women who were great friends, awesome political forces, and very funny Texas women: Ann Richards (our 45th governor) and Molly Ivins (reporter and writer). We’ll get into what made them unstoppable, some favorite quotes from each, ordeals they overcame, and their best barbs aimed at the Bush family.
We’re inspired by Ann Richards and Molly Ivins because they told the truth, worked hard for others, and weren’t afraid to be themselves on a public stage.
We start the episode with a round-up of other women notable in Texas history, like Ma Ferguson and Clara Driscoll.
Want extra reading? Here’s where we did our research:
A Texas Monthly article about the legacy of Ann Richards: https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/the-renaissance-of-ann/Ann Richards’s bio from the Texas Politics Project: https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/archive/html/exec/governors/31.htmlInfo and photos of Ann Richards, from the Austin Public Library: https://library.austintexas.gov/ahc/ann-richards-54629Ann Richards’s Keynote Address to the DNC, 1988: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtIFhiqS_TY“The Price of Being Molly Ivins”: https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/the-price-of-being-molly/“Why We Need Molly Ivins’s Wisdom Now More Than Ever”: https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/molly-ivins-raise-hell-film-janice-engel-politics/Profile of Molly on “Americans Who Tell The Truth”: https://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/portraits/molly-ivinsProfess-Hers is written and created by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. We produce the show ourselves, with help from Austin Haynes.
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We’re back, and we’re ready to share what we’ve been watching (binging) and loving. We discuss the (possible) gains the TV + movie industries made toward better representation, what’s terrible about the Oscar nominations (basically everything), and lots of great shows and movies we’ve been watching and want to share.
We’ll discuss feminism, female representation, gender, sex, language, and why they can’t say “vagina” on a medical drama.
In this episode: Little Women, The Good Place, Watchmen, The Witcher, Grey’s Anatomy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Marriage Story, Greta Gerwig, Awkwafina, Jennifer Lopez, 911: Lone Star, Regina King + more.
Want extra reading? Here’s where we did our research:
Time Magazine thought the “era of female-run TV was coming to an end” last year: https://time.com/5511730/female-run-tv-shows-ending/The latest “Boxed In” study from San Diego State: https://womenintvfilm.sdsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2018-19_Boxed_In_Report.pdfVariety’s comment on progress of female representation last year (“it’s not all good news,” they said): https://womenintvfilm.sdsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2018-19_Boxed_In_Report.pdfVariety’s comment on that progress this year (it was better news): https://variety.com/2020/film/news/captain-marvel-little-women-female-protagonists-study-1203460436/An LA Times article highlighting that most gains for female representation were for white women: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-01-08/women-film-hollywood-gender-studyDen of Geek’s discussion of gender on HBO’s Watchmen: https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/284399/beyond-silk-spectre-women-hbo-watchmenDen of Geek on fantasy and feminism in Netflix’s The Witcher: https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/netflix/282415/the-witcher-netflix-series-magic-feminism-fantasyEmpire’s review of Little Women: https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/little-women-2019/NPR’s review of Little Women: https://www.npr.org/2019/12/20/789740628/little-women-again-greta-gerwig-s-adaptation-is-both-faithful-and-radicalPublished in the New York Times, “The Bearable Whiteness of Little Women”: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/13/opinion/sunday/little-women-movie-race.htmlProfess-Hers is written and created by Allegra Davis Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. We produce the show ourselves, with help from Austin Haynes.
Profess-Hers is presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
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This episode is all about Elsa, Anna, and all your favorite (or least favorite) Disney princesses - Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Moana, Tiana, Merida, Mulan, Jasmine, Ariel, Pocahontas, and Belle. We discuss why folks love Disney, what princesses do to girls and girl culture, how to keep girls from being “eaten” by Cinderella, and the impact of Disney around the world. We get into unhealthy body images and relationship models, giving your voice away, and getting “princessified.” It’s not all bad news, especially once we get to Frozen and our hopes for Frozen II.
Want extra reading? Here’s what we consulted for our episode:
Peggy Orenstein, Cinderella Ate My Daughter Rebecca Hains, The Princess Problem: Guiding Our Girls Through The Princess Obsessed YearsThe Washington Post article that published findings about female characters in Disney movies: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/01/25/researchers-have-discovered-a-major-problem-with-the-little-mermaid-and-other-disney-movies/This Time magazine article defending The Little Mermaid: https://time.com/3586569/sexist-little-mermaid/This NPR story about how Disney affects girls around the world: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/05/24/726129132/how-disney-princesses-influence-girls-around-the-worldThis Bustle article with lots of love for Ursula: https://www.bustle.com/articles/155394-why-ursula-from-the-little-mermaid-was-actually-the-movies-heroProfess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
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In our second episode about Witches, we talk about women who embrace the label of witch because they don’t accept typical gender roles, and women maligned as “witches” by others, including Hillary Clinton and AOC. Plus, WITCH protest groups, Lindy West, and pop culture witches that made a statement about gender and feminism, including The Craft, AHS: Coven, and Sabrina. We also discuss Disney witches, including Maleficent and Ursula. It won’t surprise you to know that most witches in film and TV are not great representations of women. Still - why are so many of us drawn to the idea, imagery, and symbolism of a witch? What is inherent to witches that leads feminists to identify with them?
Want extra reading? Check our sources and recommendations:
About Kristin Sollee’s book: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jul/05/witches-feminism-books-kristin-j-solleeAbout the 1960s WITCH protest group: https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/43gd8p/wicked-witch-60s-feminist-protestors-hexed-patriarchy“The Real Reason Women Love Witches” by Annie Theriault: https://medium.com/the-establishment/the-real-reason-women-love-witches-647d48517f66Witch protesters from 2017: https://www.lifesitenews.com/pulse/witches-violent-protestors-show-up-to-support-planned-parenthood-at-pro-lifAbout AOC being accused of belonging to a coven: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/progressivesecularhumanist/2019/02/conservative-christians-claim-ocasio-cortez-is-a-witch-leading-attack-against-trump/Review of AHS: Coven from Mic: https://www.mic.com/articles/80723/let-s-talk-about-the-extreme-racism-and-sexism-of-american-horror-story-covenReview of AHS: Coven from Feministing: http://feministing.com/2013/12/04/american-horror-story-coven-is-getting-race-all-wrong/There’s a great article from Critical Studies in Media Communication (a scholarly journal), but you’ll need access through a library or institution, called “There’s Nothing I Hate More Than a Racist: (Re) Centering Whiteness in American Horror Story: Coven,” by Amanda Kay LeBlanc.https://doi.org/10.1080/15295036.2017.1416418Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
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In our Halloween-themed first of two episodes about Witches, we’re both really in our elements - Misty gets to talk about history, and Allegra gets to talk about witches. We focus on historical witches and witch hunts, the Hammer of Witches, Salem, Macbeth, the Crucible, what made someone more likely to be seen as a witch (surprise: Being a woman! Being a marginalized woman! Not having a husband or children!), and a lots of modern pop culture references to witchery.
Want extra reading? Check out our sources and recommended books:
The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege, Marilynne K. RoachIn The Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692, by Mary Beth Norton“Witchcraft and Old Women,” accessible on JSTOR: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3600840?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents“Salem Witch Trial Victims” from Refinery 29: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/03/192115/salem-witch-trials-victims-date-history-march-1An article about Tituba from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/unraveling-mysteries-tituba-salem-witch-trials-180956960/From the University of Virginia Salem Witch Trials Archives, a list of important people in the historical records: http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/people/?group.num=G02&mbio.num=mb22From the University of Virginia Salem Witch Trials Archives, an entry about Sarah Good: http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/people/good.htmlFrom Newsweek on the increasing number of people who identify as witches and / or wiccans: https://www.newsweek.com/witchcraft-wiccans-mysticism-astrology-witches-millennials-pagans-religion-1221019From the LA Times, on wiccans in the military: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-nov-26-la-na-air-force-pagans-20111127-story.htmlProfess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
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Many women who became famous in the 1990s were and continue to be misunderstood. In the second of two episodes about these women, we’ll discuss Joycelyn Elders, Anita Hill, Monica Lewinsky, and Marcia Clark, and what why it seems like we’ve started repeating themes of the 90s in the last few years.
The 1990s were full of scandals and crimes that continue to grab our attention, including two political sex scandals that somehow publicly shamed the women and left the men relatively unscathed, and the trial of the century that made a woman prosecutor’s hair, make-up and clothing more important than her serious skills as a lawyer.
Want extra reading? Check our sources:
The book 90s Bitch by Allison Yarrow“How the 90s Tricked Women Into Thinking They’d Gained Gender Equality” by Time Magazine: https://time.com/5310256/90s-gender-equality-progress/“The Joe Biden and Anita Hill Controversy, Explained.” https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/3/27/18262482/joe-biden-anita-hill-2020-christine-blasey-ford-brett-kavanaugh“Here Are Some of the Questions Anita Hill Answered in 1991” https://www.cbsnews.com/news/here-are-some-of-the-questions-anita-hill-fielded-in-1991/“Maureen Dowd Smeared Monica Lewinksy. Now, She’s Undermining #MeToo” https://www.vox.com/2018/3/25/17159732/maureen-dowd-monica-lewinsky-metoo-barry-diller-interview-new-york-times“The Clinton Affair: How We Remember the Women” https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/11/clinton-affair-how-we-remember-women/576271/(From 1995) “A Good Hair Day” https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-04-12-mn-53816-story.html“The Devastating Truth Behind Marcia’s Clark’s Leaked Topless Photos” https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/03/marcia-clark-topless-photos-people-v-oj-simpson-american-crime-story“Marcia Clark: Stop Calling Women Ambitious Like Its a Bad Thing” https://time.com/4306010/marcia-clark-sexism-blood-defense-interview/“Was Marcia Clark’s Hair Really Such a Big Deal in 1995?” https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/was-marcia-clarks-haircut-really-such-a-big-deal-001903473.html“Marcia Clark’s Husband Cites Trial in Custody Fight” https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-03-02-mn-37861-story.htmlProfess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
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Many women who became famous in the 1990s were and continue to be misunderstood. In the first of two episodes about these women, we’ll discuss Anna Nicole Smith, Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan, and what life was like for women and girls in the decade that was supposed to make everything better for us.
1992 was supposed to be “The Year of the Woman,” and women had more career and educational opportunities than ever before. We still somehow ended up having to walk a fine line in both public and private, and weren’t yet really seen as people. Girls reading teen mags and women navigating sexist social structures created a decade of misunderstood women.
Want extra reading? Check our sources:
The book 90s Bitch by Allison Yarrow“Making an Ice Queen,” about the movie I, Tonya: https://thebaffler.com/latest/i-tonya-marshall“Remote Control,” by Sarah Marshall, on Tonya and Nancy: https://believermag.com/remote-control/“How the 90s Tricked Women Into Thinking They’d Gained Gender Equality” by Time Magazine: https://time.com/5310256/90s-gender-equality-progress/Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
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This week’s episode is called “Everything Is Terrible.” We couldn’t help it. In this episode, we run down all the things that terrible for women right now, and unfortunately - it’s a lot. We discuss why it’s important to discuss things that aren’t positive, keeping the powerful in check and recognizing the work and challenges that women have experienced.
We discuss sexual harassment and assault and criminal justice, women not being believed by doctors, a terrible list by Forbes, and why we’re more likely to die in car accidents, and then we do get to some good news: women being seen as competent, women’s groups shoring up political power, and great books and good TV to look forward to.
Want extra reading?
From Vox, on Brett Kavanaugh: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/9/16/20868426/brett-kavanaugh-fbi-investigation-susan-collins-joe-manchin-jeff-flakeFrom Madame Noir, on Ja’leyah Jamar: https://madamenoire.com/1100519/jaleyah-jamar-trans-woman-murdered/From Pro Publica, on the Marshall project: https://www.propublica.org/article/false-rape-accusations-an-unbelievable-storyThis American Life episode called “Anatomy of Doubt” https://www.propublica.org/article/false-rape-accusations-an-unbelievable-storyFrom Texas Tribune on donating money to rape kit testing when we renew our drivers’ licenses: https://www.texastribune.org/2017/09/18/how-texas-drivers-can-help-texas-tackle-its-rape-kit-testing-backlog/Atlantic article called “An Epidemic of Disbelief” https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/08/an-epidemic-of-disbelief/592807/Think podcast episode on serial rapists and rape kits: https://think.kera.org/2019/08/12/why-serial-rapists-stalk-among-us/From Jezebel, on women and crash test dummies: https://jezebel.com/women-are-dying-in-car-accidents-because-the-only-femal-1836527298From NYT, on doctors and female patients: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/well/live/when-doctors-downplay-womens-health-concerns.amp.htmlFrom Time, by Dr. Cottom, on not being listened to as a patient: https://time.com/5494404/tressie-mcmillan-cottom-thick-pregnancy-competent/From NPR, on the Forbes list: https://www.npr.org/2019/09/11/759899375/female-ceos-blast-forbes-list-of-innovative-leaders-that-includes-only-one-woman?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=socialThe LA Times article on women and competence: https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2019-07-18/women-more-competent-than-men-studyFrom MSNBC, on two years into #metoo: https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/men-sound-metoo-i-definitely-look-back-cringe-ncna1054886Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
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Our episode about Summer Movies is here! We discuss Wine Country, Spider-Man: Far From Home, It Chapter Two, The Kitchen, Toy Story 4, and Once Upon a Time In Hollywood. Plus Aladdin, John Wick 3, and The Lion King.
We also get into this summer’s biggest winners and losers at the box office, and which of this year’s movies inched us forward in their discussions of gender. Misty shares some summer movie history - from the first season of summer hits to the origins of the terms “Blockbuster” and “Nickelodeon.”
We have a lot of fun discussing gender, representation, progress and problems in this summer’s biggest movies. Was Bo a feminist icon or just a token character in Toy Story? Which movies would we recommend, and which would we never watch again?
Want some extra reading? Here are the sources we used or mentioned in this episode:
From Jezebel, about Quentin Tarantino’s female representation fail: https://themuse.jezebel.com/quentin-tarantinos-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-double-1836675763From Polygon, about Zendaya in Spider-Man: Far From Home: https://www.polygon.com/2019/7/5/20683227/spider-man-far-from-home-mj-character-zendayaMore about Toy Story and Pixar’s gender progress:https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/bo-peep-toy-story-4-feminist-makeoverhttps://lwlies.com/articles/pixar-bo-peep-feminist-makeover/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/06/24/how-team-women-remade-empowered-bo-peep-toy-story/Entertainment Weekly’s List of Summer Movie Winners and Losers: https://ew.com/movies/2019/08/14/summer-2019-box-office-winners-losers/Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
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We have a lot of fun discussing summer TV: reality shows, Stranger Things 3, OITNB, Handmaid’s Tale, Euphoria, and lots more. What did these shows tell us about gender? How well are they reflecting us? Which ones made us laugh? What makes a show “prestige TV”?
We also discuss some random summer competition shows, like Holey Moley, Blown Away, and Ink Master, what Fall shows we’re looking forward to, and why summer TV is so different.
Want some extra reading? Here are the sources we used or mentioned in this episode:
From The Hollywood Reporter, “Why ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Broke Its Rules for First Same-Sex Romance: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/bachelor-paradise-airs-first-same-sex-romance-demi-burnett-1233460From Vice, “‘Stranger Things 3’ Seems to Be Moving Backwards of Its Treatment of Women”: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/gy47gj/stranger-things-3-seems-to-be-moving-backwards-on-its-treatment-of-womenFrom Essence, in 2016: “Orange is The New Black, Except in The Writer’s Room” https://www.essence.com/entertainment/orange-new-black-except-its-writers/From Slate, “OITNB’s Final Season Is the Best the Show Has Been in Years” https://www.essence.com/entertainment/orange-new-black-except-its-writers/From Vulture, “Holey Moley and Blown Away Should Be Your Go-to Summer Reality Competitions” https://www.vulture.com/2019/07/holey-moley-blown-away-perfect-summer-tv.htmlProfess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
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Getting a job is hard for everyone - but can it be harder for women? Why are women less likely to apply for jobs, and what can workplaces do to make applying, interviewing, and hiring more equitable?
This is Part 2 of our 2-episode series on the challenges women encounter in job ads, in interviews, and sometimes even when building their resumes. We have stats, personal experience, advice (good and bad), and some good news, too. We'll discuss applying, interviewing, negotiating salary, promotions, and hiring committees.
As college faculty, something we think about all the time is preparing students for their future studies and careers, making sure they get both our content and the skills they need to be successful in a place where they can thrive. So, how can we make sure that everyone gets a chance to do that?
Want some extra reading? Check out these sources, which we used for this episode:
“Evidence that Gendered Language in Job Advertisements Exists and Sustains Gender Equality,” published by Harvard Kennedy School’s Women and Public Policy Program: http://gap.hks.harvard.edu/evidence-gendered-wording-job-advertisements-exists-and-sustains-gender-inequality“Facts about the Gender Wage Gap,” published by CNN Money: https://money.cnn.com/2015/04/13/news/economy/equal-pay-day-2015/“Gender Bias in the Job Market: A Longitudinal Analysis,” from the University of Chicago: http://people.cs.uchicago.edu/~ravenben/publications/pdf/gender-cscw18.pdf“Diversity Policies Rarely Make Companies Fairer,” published by the Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2016/01/diversity-policies-dont-help-women-or-minorities-and-they-make-white-men-feel-threatenedThe totaljobs Gender Bias Decoder: https://www.totaljobs.com/insidejob/gender-bias-decoder/Gender Decoder for Job Ads: http://gender-decoder.katmatfield.com/Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
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Getting a job is hard for everyone - but can it be harder for women? Why are women less likely to apply for jobs, and what can workplaces do to make applying, interviewing, and hiring more equitable?
This is Part 1 of our 2-episode series on the challenges women encounter in job ads, in interviews, and sometimes even when building their resumes. We have stats, personal experience, advice (good and bad), and some good news, too. We'll discuss gendered language in job ads, what makes women want to apply, and how employers can make smarter choices about recruitment.
As college faculty, something we think about all the time is preparing students for their future studies and careers, making sure they get both our content and the skills they need to be successful in a place where they can thrive. So, how can we make sure that everyone gets a chance to do that?
Want some extra reading? Check out these sources, which we used for this episode:
“Evidence that Gendered Language in Job Advertisements Exists and Sustains Gender Equality,” published by Harvard Kennedy School’s Women and Public Policy Program: http://gap.hks.harvard.edu/evidence-gendered-wording-job-advertisements-exists-and-sustains-gender-inequality“Facts about the Gender Wage Gap,” published by CNN Money: https://money.cnn.com/2015/04/13/news/economy/equal-pay-day-2015/“Gender Bias in the Job Market: A Longitudinal Analysis,” from the University of Chicago: http://people.cs.uchicago.edu/~ravenben/publications/pdf/gender-cscw18.pdf“Diversity Policies Rarely Make Companies Fairer,” published by the Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2016/01/diversity-policies-dont-help-women-or-minorities-and-they-make-white-men-feel-threatenedThe totaljobs Gender Bias Decoder: https://www.totaljobs.com/insidejob/gender-bias-decoder/Gender Decoder for Job Ads: http://gender-decoder.katmatfield.com/Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
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We get to recommend some great books with female lead characters, relatable story lines and realistic development, plus compare them to their on-screen counterparts. We also discuss the success of female authors, and the rise of women-written books being adapted into successful movies and shows.
In this episode, Allegra celebrates three women-led books: Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler, Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer, and Big Little Lies by Liane Moriaty, and gets into the strengths and drawbacks of their TV or movie adaptations. Misty shares her take on Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman, and compares it to the popular Netflix show.
We also talk about both the rising success of female authors, and an industry that’s still trying to hold them down. We also get to revel in Reese Witherspoon’s support of women-written books through both her production company that focuses on adapting those into shows and movies (including Gone Girl, Big Little Lies, Little Fires Everywhere, Where the Crawdads Sing, and lots more), and through her book club.
We also do a quick call out to a show that was much better than the books: True Blood.
Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
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Take his name (or hers) or don't, throw bouquets or keep them forever, toss garters or never wear them: it's all up to you.
This one is about feminist weddings, the history of weddings and Western wedding traditions, and some literary weddings you might love (or hate).
In this episode, we each get to share some details about our own weddings and the choices we made about dresses, decor, and being “given away.” Misty gets to talk history, but promises not to stay in the Middle Ages too long, and Allegra shares some literary weddings - including, well just about every Jane Austen novel, and the pitiful story of Miss Havisham.
Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
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We’re very excited to discuss the influences, context, and legacy of one of our favorite books, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Misty gets to talk about history, Allegra gets to discuss literature, and they both share what they think the book means, and why it’s still so important.
We include what we know about how and why Atwood wrote this book, what literary and historical influences helped shape the novel, and what its themes are. We also discuss why the book resonates with so many who read it, why it was set in America, and how it has impacted literary works that came after it.
Profess-Hers is a podcast written and presented by Misty, a History professor, and Allegra, an English professor, both of whom are here for having a serious, fun conversation about looking at literature, history, current events, pop culture, and media through a feminist lens.
Written by Allegra Hanna and Misty Wilson-Mehrtens. Find the Profess-Hers Podcast on Twitter and Instagram @Professhers.
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